UC-NBLF 


THE   TENTH  ^MAN 


PLAYS  BY   W.  S.  MAUGHAM 

Uniionu  with  this  volume 

JACK  STRAW 

PENELOPE 

MRS.  DOT 

THE  EXPLORER 

A  MAN  OF  HONOUR 

LADY  FREDERICK 

SMITH 

LANDED  GENTRY 

CHICAGO:  THE  DRAMATIC  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


*  THS  TeO^H  MA^^ 


A    TRAGIC   COMSVr 

In   'Three  Acts 


n  yj  y 


"Br  W,  S.  MAUGHAM 


CHICAGO  : 

THE  DRAMATIC  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


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Printed  by 

Ballantyne  &  Company 

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y/wW 


This  play  was  produced  on  the  24th  February,  1910, 
with  the  following  cast : 

George  Winter  Arthur  Bourchier 

Lord  Francis  Etchingham      Edmund  Maurice 
Mr.  Perigal  A.  Holmes  Gore 

James  Ford  A.   E.  George 

Robert  Colby,  M.P.  Godfrey  Teakle 

Frederick  Bennett  Michael  Sherbroke 

Colonel  Boyce  Frank  Atherley 

Kev.  William  Swalecliffe         George  Beally 
Edward  O'Donnell  Douglas  Imbert 

Butler  Dallas  Cairns 

Lady  Francis  Etchingham   Kate  Sergeantson 
Catherine  Winter  Francis  Dillon- 

Anne  Daisy  Markham 


rHE  TENTH  MAN 

CHA%ACTe%^ 

George  Winter,  M.P. 

Lord  Francis  ETCinNC4HAM 

Robert  Colby,  M.P. 

Mr.  Perigal 

James  Ford 

Colonel  Boyce 

Rev.  William  Swalecliffl: 

Frederick  Bennett 

Edward  O'Donnell 

Butler  at  Lord  Francis  Etchingham's 

Waiter  at  the  Great  Northern  Hotel 

Catherine  Winter 

Lady  Francis  Etchingham 

Anne 


The  Pcrforminrj  Rights  of  this  play  arc 
fulh/  protected,  and  permission  to  perform  it, 
wliether  hy  Amateurs  or  Professionals,  must 
be  obtained  in  advance  from  the  author's  Sole 
Agent,  R.  G aiding  Bright,  20  Green  Street, 
Leicester  Sqveire,  London,  TT'.C,  from  ichom 
all  2^(irticidars  can  he  obtained. 


THE  TENTH  MAN 


THE  FIRST  ACT 

Scene  :  A  drawing-room  at  Lord  Fraxcis  Etching- 
ham's  house  in  Norfolk  Street,  Parh  Lane.  An 
Adam  room,  ivith  bright  chintzes  on  the  furniture, 
jjhotograjjhs  on  the  chimney -^nece  and  the  'piano, 
and  a  great  many  flowers.  There  is  an  archtvay 
at  the  back,  leading  into  another  dravnng-room, 
and  it  is  through  this  that  visitors  are  introduced 
by  the  butler.  On  the  left  is  a  large  bov)  loindoio, 
and  071  the  7nght  a  door  leading  into  the  library. 

Lord  and  Lady  Francis. 

Lord  Francis  Etchingham  is  a  man  of  fifty,  of  the 
7niddle  height,  rather  bald,  with  an  aTniable,  iveak 
face.  He  is  a  good-natured  2^e7'son,  anxious  to  do 
his  best  in  all  things  and  to  all  people  so  long  as 
he  is  not  bored.  He  wants  everything  to  go 
smoothly.  He  has  a  comfortable  idea  of  his  oion 
capacity.  Reduced  ci^xumstances  have  drawn  him 
into  ajfcm's,  a7id  he  regards  himself  as  a  fine  man 
of  business.  Lady  Francis  is  a  handsome  and 
well-presei'ved  wo7na7i  of  the  same  age  as  her  hus- 
band, with  dyed  red  hair ;  she  has    a    massive, 

I  A 


2  THE  TENTH  MAN 

almost  an  imposing,  jyi-esence,  and  she  is  admirably 
gowned.  She  treats  her  hushandwithgood-humoiLred 
scorn,  aivare  of  Ids  foihles,  hut  amused  rather  than 
annoyed  hy  them.  When  the  curtain  rises  Francis 
Etchixgham  is  a  prey  to  the  liveliest  vexation.  He 
is  vxdking  nervously  across  the  room,  v)hile  his  wife, 
with  a  thin  smile,  stands  quietly  loatching  him. 
With  a  gesture  of  irritation  he  flings  himself  into 
a  chair 

Etchingham. 

Why  the  dickens  didn't  you  tell  me  last  night, 
Angela  ? 

Lady  Francis. 

[Smiling.']  I  had  no  wish  to  disturb  my  night's 
rest. 

Etchingham. 

Upon  my  soul,  I  don't  know  what  you  mean.  It's 
incomprehensible  to  me  that  you  should  have  slept 
like  a  top.  I  couldn't  have  closed  my  eyes  the  whole 
night. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  know.  And  you  would  have  taken  excellent  care 
that  I  shouldn't  close  mine  either. 

Etchingham. 

I  should  have  thought  I  had  enough  to  do  without 
being  pestered  with  a  foolish  woman's  matrimonial 
difficulties. 

Lady  Francis. 

\With  a  laugh.]  You  really  have  a  very  detached 
way  of   looking  at  things,   Frank.       No  one  would 


THE  TENTH  MAN  3 

imagine,  to  iiear  you  speak,  that  the  foolish  woman 
in  question  was  your  daughter. 

Etchingham. 

Really,  Angela,  I  must  beg  you  not  to  make  this  a 
subject  of  flippancy. 

Lady  Francis. 

[Good-humour edly.]  Well,  what  do  you  propose 
to  do? 

Etchingham. 

[Flying  out  of  his  chair. ^  Do?  What  do  you  expect 
me  to  do  ?  You  tell  me  that  Kate  came  home  at 
twelve  o'clock  last  night  without  a  stitch  of 
clothing  .  .   . 

Lady  Francis. 

My  dear,  if  I  told  you  that  I  was  most  unwarrant- 
ably distorting  the  truth. 

Etchingham. 

[Irritably  correcting  himself.^  In  a  ball  dress,  with 
an  opera  cloak  on — without  her  luggage,  without  even 
a  dressing-case — and  informs  you  that  she's  left  her 
husband.  .  .  .  It's  absurd. 

Lady  Francis. 
Quite  absurd.     And  so  unnecessarily  dramatic. 

Etchingham, 
And  when's  she  going  home  ? 


4  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Lady  Francis. 
She  assures  me  that  she's  not  going  home. 

Etchingham. 
[Almost  beside  hwiself.]  She's  not  going  to  stay  here  ? 

Lady  Francis. 
Those  are  her  plans  at  the  moment. 

Etchingham. 
And  George  ? 

Lady  Francis. 
Well? 

Etchingham. 

You  don't  suppose  her  husband's  going  to  put  up 
with  this  nonsense  ?     Has  he  made  no  sign  ? 

Lady  Francis. 

Ten  minutes  after  she  arrived  he  sent  a  messenger 
boy — with  a  toothbrush. 

Etchingham. 
Why  a  toothbrush  ? 

♦  Lady  Francis. 

I  don't  know.     Presumably  to  brush  her  teeth. 

Etchingham. 
Well,  that  shows  he  doesn't  look  upon  the  matter 


THE  TENTH  MAN  5 

as  serious.     Of  course,  it  was  a  whim  on  Kate's  part. 
Luckily  he's  coming  here  this  morning  .  .   . 

Lady  Francis. 
[l7ite7Tiipting.]  Ts  he  ? 

Etchingiiam. 

Yes,  he  promised  to  fetch  me  in  his  car.  We're 
going  to  drive  down  to  the  City  together,  I'll  bring 
nim  in,  and  meanwhile  you  can  talk  to  Kate.  I 
dare  say  she's  thought  better  of  it  already.  It  only 
wants  a  little  tact,  and  we  can  settle  the  whole  thing. 
George  is  clever  enough  to  have  given  some  plausible 
explanation  to  the  servants. 

Lady  Francis. 

Are  you  really  under  the  impression  things  are 
going  to  pass  ofi'  in  that  way  ? 

Etchingham. 
Why  not  ? 

Lady  Francis. 

They  say  it's  a  wise  man  who  knows  his  own  father, 
but  it's  apparently  a  wiser  man  still  who  knows  his 
own  daughter. 

Etchingham. 

Angela,  for  goodness'  sake  don't  try  to  be  bright 
and  amusing. 

Lady  Francis. 
Do  you  know  so  little  of  Kate  as  to  imagine  she 


6  THE  TENTH  MAN 

would  have  taken  a  step  of  this  kind  without  having 
quite  made  up  her  mind  ? 

Etching  UAM. 

You  don't  mean  to  say  you  think  Kate  will  refuse 
to  go  back  to  her  husband  ? 

Lady  Fraxcis. 
I  do. 

Etchingham. 

But  what  reasons  does  she  give  ?     Why  did  she  say 
she  left  him  ? 

Lady  Francis. 

She  gave  no  reasons.  She  merely  stated  the  fact 
and  asked  if  I  could  put  her  up. 

Etchingham. 
AYell,  she  must  go  back  to  her  husband. 

Lady  Francis. 
\^As  if  it  ivere  the  most  innocent  question.]  Why  ? 

Etchingham. 

Because  a  woman's  place  is  by  her  husband's  side. 
Angela.  You  know  just  as  well  as  I  do  that  I  can't 
afford  to  quarrel  with  George  Winter.  I'm  chairman 
of  half  a  dozen  of  his  companies.  The  position  would 
be  intolerable.  I  should  be  expected  to  take  Kate's 
side  if  she  were  right  or  wrong. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  7 

Lady  Francis. 
I  suppose  you  owe  him  money  ? 

Etchingham. 
No,  not  exactly. 

Lady  Francis. 

Ah  !  \]Vith  a  shrewd  look  at  him  and  a  smile.^  And 
how  much  is  it  that  you — don't  exactly  owe  him  ? 

Etchingham. 

We're  mixed  up  together  in  any  number  of  business 
undertakings,  and  naturally  we  have  a  sort  of  running 
account.  If  we  settled  up  I  dare  say  I  should  have 
to  find  something  like  fifteen  thousand  pounds. 

Lady  Francis. 

Good  heavens,  I  thought  you'd  been  making 
money. 

Etchingham. 

Yes,  I  did,  but  the  fact  is,  we've  been  very  badly 
hit  lately.  Practically  all  our  interests  are  in  Central 
America,  and  we  couldn't  foresee  that  there'd  be  a 
revolution  there. 

Lady  Francis. 
The  possibility  might  have  crossed  your  mind. 

Etchingham. 

Oh,  I  knew  you'd  blame  me.  And  I  suppose  you'll 
blame  me  because  a  confounded  earthquake  smashed 
up  one  of  our  railways. 


THE  TENTH  MAN 


Lady  Francis. 


And  how  d'you  propose  to  raise  fifteen  thousand 
pounds  ? 

Etchingham. 

That's  just   it.     It  would    be    devilish   awkward. 
And  George  is  in  a  confounded  tight  place  too. 

Lady  Francis. 

You'd  better  talk  to  Kate.     I'll  send  for  her, 

[She  touches  a  hell,  and  gives  her  order  down  a 
sjyeaking  tube. 

Lady  Francis. 

Ask  Mrs.  Winter  to  be  good  enough  to  come  to 
the  drawing  room. 

Etchingham. 

You  must   talk   to   her   seriously,    Angela.     You 
must  tell  her  that  her  behaviour  is  outrageous. 

Lady  Francis. 

\With  a  chuckle.]  No,  my  dear.     You  are  going  to 
talk  to  her. 

[Catherine  Winter  comes  in.  She  is  a 
grace/id  looman,  loith  a  strong,  passionate 
face;  and  her  expression,  rather  tired  hut 
self-contained  and  resolute,  suggests  that 
she  has  endured  great  trouble  and  is  nou) 
making  a  desperate  effort  to  escape.  She 
is  very  simply  dressed  and  loears  no 
jewellery  hut  her  wedding  ring. 


THE  TENTH  MAN 


Catherine. 


Good-morning,  father. 

[She  goes  up  to  Loed  Francis  and  kisses  his 
cheek. 

Etchingham. 

[With  elaborate  ^^olileness.]  Be  so  goodas  to  sit 
down,  Catherine. 

[Catherine  exchanges  ivith  her  mother  a 
glance  of  faint  amusement  and  takes  a 
seat. 

Etchingham. 

[With  a  fine  assumption  of  p)aternal  authority ?\ 
I  want  to  talk  to  you.  Your  mother  and  I  have  sent 
for  you  .  .  .  [Breaking  out.^^  Now  what  does  all  this 
mean  ?  It's  ridiculous  nonsense.  You're  surely  old 
enough  to  have  learnt  a  little  self-control. 

Catherine. 

[Calmly.^^  I've  shown  a  good  deal  of  self-control 
during  the  four  years  of  my  married  life,  father. 
I  was  afraid  it  was  growing  into  a  habit. 

Etchingham. 

Am  I  to  understand  that  what  your  mother  tells 
me  is  true  ? 

Catherine. 

[Quietly?^  I  lived  with  George  as  long  as  I  could. 
I  put  up  with  more  than  any  woman  I  know  would 
have  done.  But  there  are  some  things  no  one  should 
suffer  who  has  any  self-respect. 


lo  THE  TENTH  MAN 


Etching  HAM. 


You've    never     complaiTied     before    of    George's 
behaviour. 

Catherine. 


No. 


Etchingham. 


Why  have  you  never  said  a  word  to  your  mother 
about  it  ?  I  can't  imagine  why  you  shouldn't  get  on 
with  George.  I  don't  suppose  you've  ever  expressed 
a  whim  that  he  hasn't  gratified.  Your  allowance  is 
princely.  Your  pearls  are  the  envy  of  every  woman 
in  London. 

Catherine. 

Oh,  yes,  he's  generous.  My  pearls  have  been  a 
splendid  advertisement. 

Etching  HAM. 

[Ignoring  the  second  sentence  and  pouncing  on  the 
admission.^     Then  what  have  you  got  to  complain  of? 

Catherine. 

I  dare  say  my  mother  knows  what  half  London  is 
chattering  about. 

Etchingham. 


Well,  Angela? 


Lady  Francis. 


Oh,  my  dear,  I  hoped  it  was  idle  gossip.  A  man 
as  much  in  the  public  eye  as  George  Winter — the 
most  prominent  financier  of  the  moment — is  certain 
to  be  talked  about. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  ii 

Etchingham. 

I  suppose  he's  been  flirting  with  two  or  three 
pretty  women. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  understand  tilings  are  supposed  to  have  gone 
rather  further  than  that. 

Etchingham. 

That's  the  kind  of  thing  a  tactful  woman  must  close 
her  eyes  to.  You're  a  woman  of  the  world,  Kate. 
You  know  what  men  are.  You  must  extend  a 
certain  degree  of  licence  to  a  man  of  George  Winter's 
temperament. 

Catherine. 

You  don't  understand,  father.  I  bore  my  life  till 
I  couldn't  bear  it  any  longer.  I'm  not  the  sort  of 
woman  to  make  scenes.  I  held  my  tongue,  I  closed 
my  eyes,  till  something  happened  which  I  couldn't 
endure.  I've  left  him  fully  decided  to  divorce  him. 
Nothing  that  you  can  say  will  move  me. 

Etchingham. 

But  you  can't  divorce  him.  You've  accused  him  of 
nothing  but  infidelity.  You  can't  be  so  ignorant  of 
the  law  .   ,  . 

Catherine. 

\^Interru2)tlng.^^  I'm  not  at  all  ignorant  of  the  law. 
I  assure  you  that  he  has  complied  fully  with  all  the 
conditions  which  are  needful. 


12  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Lady  Francis. 
Kate. 

Catherine. 

Please  don't  ask  me.  I  feel  that  my  whole  soul  is 
foul  with  .  .   . 

Etciiingham. 

Well,  of  course  there  are  always  two  sides  to  every 
question. 

Catherine. 

Oh,  father,  you're  not  going  to  tell  me  that  that, 

too,  is  usual  in  polite  society,  for  a  man  to  .   .  .     Oh  ! 

[She  gives  a  gesture  and  a  cry  of  disgust. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  wonder  if  you'd  go  and  read  your  Times,  Frank. 
I  should  like  to  talk  to  Katie  alone. 

Etchingham. 

\With  a  look  from  his  loife  to  his  dxtughter?\^  Eh, 
very  well.  Perhaps  you  can  do  something  with  her. 
Tell  her  what  it  means  if  she  persists.  I  suppose  I 
shall  find  the  Times  in  the  library. 

[He  goes  out. 

Lady  Francis. 

[With  a  smile.^  Your  father  has  such  a  power  of 
delusion.  He  never  looks  at  anything  but  the  Daily 
Mail,  but  he's  quite  convinced  that  he  reads  nothing 
but  the  Times. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  13 

Catherine. 

[^Passionately. ^^  Oh,  mother,  you'll  stand  by  me, 
won't  you  ?  You  know  what  I've  gone  through.  If 
you  care  for  me  at  all  you  must  have  some  pity. 

[Lady  Francis  looks  at  her  coolly.  She  is 
quite  unmoved  by  the  vehemence  of  the 
appeal.  She  2yaHses  for  a  moment  before 
answering. 

Lady  Francis. 

Why  have  you  chosen  this  particular  moment  to 
leave  your  husband  ? 

Catherine. 
There  are  limits  to  human  endurance. 

Lady  Francis. 

You've  lived  a  good  deal  apart.  Like  civilized 
people  you've  made  the  best  of  a  mutual  want  of 
sympathy.  I  should  have  thought  George  interfered 
with  you  very  little.  I  have  an  idea  that  no  woman 
would  care  to  undergo  the — inconvenience  of  pro- 
ceedings for  divorce  without  a  very  good  reason. 
You've  got  a  peculiarly  fastidious  taste,  Katie.  It 
must  be  something  rather  out  of  the  way  that 
induces  you  to  expose  your  private  life  to  all  and 
sundry. 

Catherine. 

It's  merely  a  choice  of  ignominies. 

[Lady  Francis  pauses  an  instant.,  then  raps  out 
the  question  sliarply. 


14  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Lady  Francis. 
Arc  you  in  love? 

Catuerine. 
You  have  no  right  to  ask  me  that,  mother. 

Lady  Francis. 

[With  a  slight  smile.]  Your  indignation  is  almost 
an  answer  in  itself,  isn't  it  ?  I  suppose  you  want  to 
marry. 

[Catherine  does  not  ansiver.     She  takes  a  step 
or  two  imjKitiently . 

Lady  Francis. 
Well? 

Catherine. 
I've  got  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of. 

Lady  Francis. 

In  that  case,  I  should  have  thought  you  had  nothing 
to  conceal. 

Catherine. 

[Defiantly.']  I  haven't.  When  I  thought  that 
everything  was  over  for  me  and  that  life  was  mean- 
ingless, I  found  it  was  only  just  beginning.  And  I 
thanked  God  for  all  I'd  gone  through  because  perhaps 
it  made  me  less  unfit  for  the  great  love  that  descended 
upon  me. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  15 

Lady  Francis. 
It's  Ptobert  Colby,  isn't  it? 

Catherine. 
Yes. 

Lady  Francis. 

And  you've  made  your  arrangements,  I  suppose,  to 
be  married  as  soon  as  the  decree  is  made  absolute  ? 

Catherine. 
We  haven't  discussed  the  matter. 

Lady  Francis. 
Jiut  still,  I  may  take  it  that  is  the  intention  ? 

Catherine. 

Yes. 

Lady  Francis. 

Your  father  wishes  me  to  tell  you  that  if  you 
quarrel  with  George  it  will  ruin  him.  He  could 
hardly  keep  the  position  that  George  has  given  him 
on  his  various  boards. 

Catherine. 
You  will  be  no  worse  oJ0f  than  before  I  married. 

Lady  Francis. 

Except  that  it  appears  your  father  owes  George 
fifteen  thousand  pounds. 


1 6  THE  TENTH  MAN 

CATnERINE. 

Do  you  want  to  cheat  me  again  out  of  the  little 
happiness  that  seems  in  store  for  me  ? 

Lady  Fbancis. 
I  want  you  to  do  what  is  right  in  your  own  eyes. 

Catherine. 
How  can  you  be  so  cruel  ? 

George  Wixter. 
[Opening  the  door.]  May  I  come  in  ? 

[He  enters  with  Francis  Etchingham.  George 
Winter  is  a  man  of  2>owerfal  build,  with 
fine  hair  and  fine  eyes  ;  he  loears  a  short  red 
heard.  He  is  inclined  to  corjndence,  hut 
hears  himself  with  an  attractive  sivagger. 
He  is  a  jovial,  hland  fellow.  He  appears 
to  he  the  hest-natured  p)erson  in  the  loorld, 
and  his  great  astuteness  suggests  itself  only 
now  and  then  in  a  look  of  his  eyes.  He  has 
admirable  control  over  an  execrable  temper. 
Catherine  turns  round  with  a  startled  cry 
at  the  sound  of  her  husband's  voice. 


George ! 


Catherine. 


George  Winter. 
My  dear,  look  pleased  to  see  me.     It's  only  decent. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  17 

Catherine. 

It's  infamous  that  yon  should  come  here.  If  you 
had  any  decent  feeling  .  .  . 

George  Winter. 

[Blandl}/.]  My  dear  child,  I  had  a  business  engage- 
ment with  your  father.  It's  unreasonable  to  expect 
me  not  to  keep  it  because  you  have  temporarily 
abandoned  the  conjugal  roof. 

Catherine. 
[To  he?' father.]   You.  might  have  warned  me. 

Etchingham. 

My  dear,  I  was  hoping  that  after  a  talk  with  your 
mother  you'd  have  .   .  . 

Catherine. 

[Inte7^rupting.]  What  can  I  do  to  show  you  that 
I've  made  up  my  mind  for  good  and  all  ? 

George  Winter. 

Even  after  one's  made  up  one's  mind,  it's  not  too  late 
to  listen  to  reason. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  think  for  all  our  sakes  you  should  listen  to  any- 
thing that  George  has  to  say. 


1 8  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

[To  George  Winter.]  Do  you  understand  what  my 
mother  means  ? 

George  'Winter. 

[^Vith  a  little  chuckle.]  I  dimly  suspect. 

Catherine. 

My  father  owes  you  a  lot  of  money.  He's  chairman 
of  half  your  companies.  He  thinks  that  if  I  divorce 
you  he'll  have  to  pay  that  money  .   .   . 

George  Winter. 

I'm  sure  his  sense  of  delicacy  would  prevent  him 
from  remaining  in  my  debt. 

Catherine. 
And  you'll  make  him  resign  his  directorships  ? 

George  Winter. 

[With  his  tongue  in  his  cheek.]  I  know  him  well 
enough  to  feel  certain  that  lie  would  never  wish  to 
retain  them. 

Catherine. 
Oh,  it's  vile. 

George  Winter. 
Or  is  it  common  sense  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  19 

[There  is  a  7nomenfs  pause,  and  when  George 
Winter  speaks  it  is  ivith  great  seriousness, 

George  Winter. 

Now  look  here,  Kate  ;  listen  to  me  carefully.  You 
know  that  all  our  interests  are  in  Central  America. 
The  Lewishams  had  it  all  their  own  way  out  there 
till  I  came  along.  They  owned  the  railways  and  the 
mines  and  the  trams — everything  that  was  worth 
having.  Well,  I  knew  I  couldn't  oust  tliem,  but  I 
thought  I  could  make  them  take  me  in.  I've  been 
fighting  them  tooth  and  nail  for  ten  years.  They've 
done  all  they  could  to  smash  me  by  fair  means  and 
foul,  but  they  haven't  succeeded.  And  now  I'm  in 
sight  of  my  goal.     I  can  force  them  to  come  to  terras. 

Catherine. 
All  this  is  nothing  to  me. 

George  Winter. 

The  Lewishams  got  on  to  a  big  thing — a  mine 
called  the  Campo  del  Oro.  But  that  earthquake  the 
other  day  queered  their  pitch,  and  they  offered  bills 
when  hard  cash  was  the  only  thing  to  do  the  trick. 
I  thought  that  what  was  good  enough  for  the 
Lewishams  was  good  enough  for  me.  I  knew  that  if 
I  could  get  it  they'd  have  to  take  me  in.  I  had  two 
hours  to  think  it  over.  I  found  the  cash  and  bought 
the  mine  last  week. 

Catherine. 

It  doesn't  interest  me. 


20  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

It  will.     I  sent  Macdonald  out  there. 

Etcuixguam. 

^lacdonald  is  George's  expert.  He's  the  soundest 
man  in  the  profession, 

George  Winter. 

And  straight,  straight  as  a  die.  I'm  expecting 
his  repoit  every  day.  He  may  cable  me  at  any 
moment.  Then  I  shall  get  to  work.  I'm  going 
to  float  the  mine  as  a  company  with  a  capital  of 
half  a  million.  Your  father  will  be  chairman,  and 
he  ought  to  make  close  on  fifty  thousand  out  of  it. 
For  a  reason  I  needn't  tell  you,  Ave  can't  afford  to 
wait.  We  must  have  ready  money,  and  that  means 
floating  the  company  at  once.  My  only  chance  is  in 
Middlepool,  where  three  parts  of  my  backing  have 
come  from  before.  We  shall  soon  be  in  the  middle  of  a 
General  Election.  And  you  know  how  uncertain  my 
seat  in  Middlepool  is.  I  keep  it  only  by  my  personal 
popularity.  I'm  at  the  mercy  of  the  Nonconformists, 
and  if  there's  talk  of  a  divorce  it's  all  U.P.  with  me. 
They'll  make  me  retire  before  the  election,  and  if  that 
happens  the  new  company  won't  stand  a  dog's  chance. 

Lady  Francis. 
Why? 

George  Winter. 

Because  with  the  general  public  nervous,  I  shall 
have  to  depend  on  Middlepool, 'and  there  I  can  only 
float  it  on  my  personal  character, 


THE  TENTH  MAN  21 

Catherine. 

I'm  afraid  you'll  think  it  very  selfish,  but  I  haven't 
any  more  power  of  self-sacrifice  in  me. 

George  Winter. 

If  the  Campo  del  Oro  is  a  failure,  it'll  knock  down 
all  the  other  companies  I'm  connected  with.  The 
Lewishams  will  seize  the  opportunity  to  make  a  raid 
on  me.  I'm  standing  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice,  and 
anyone  who  cares  to  give  me  a  shove  will  send  me 
over.  .  .  .  It'll  mean  your  father's  ruin  and  mine — 
I  dare  say  you  don't  mind  that — but  it'll  also  mean 
the  ruin  of  thousands  of  poor  investors  all  over  the 
country.  Three-quarters  of  the  population  of  Middle- 
pool  will  lose  their  savings. 

Catherine. 
You've  lied  to  me  so  often,  Georije. 


&' 


George  Winter. 

I  can  show  you  by  plain  figures  that  every  word  I 
say  is  true. 

Catherine. 

I  haven't  much  sympathy  with  the  gamblers  who 
want  to  make  money  without  working  for  it.  If 
they  lose,  it's  their  own  look  out. 

[  77iere  is  a  jmuse.     George  Winter  looks  at 
her  and  nods  to  himself. 

George  Winter. 
[To  Etchingham.]  I   think  you'd   better  go  now. 


22  THE  TENTH  MAN 

The    rest    of    our    conversation    doesn't    need    any 
listeners. 

Catherine. 
1  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  you. 

George  "Winter. 

Don't  be  a  damned  fool.  It's  a  matter  of  life  nrid 
death  to  me,  and  d'you  think  I'm  going  to  .  .  .  [//e 
stojys.^  Please,  Lady  Francis. 

Lady  Francis. 
Of  course  we'll  leave  you.     Come,  Frank. 

[Lady  Francis  and  her  husband  go  out. 

George  Winter. 

\J]^ith  a  tioinkle  in  his  eye.]  I  don't  think  your 
elopement  receives  the  unqualified  approval  of  your 
ppvrents. 

Catherine. 

D'you  want  to  repeat  that  odious  scene  of  last 
night  ?  Surely  we  said  all  that  we  had  to  say  to  one 
another. 

George  Winter. 

[Shrugging  his  shoulders.^  You  know,  I  w^oiddn't 
have  played  the  fool  with  other  women  if  you 
hadn't  shown  me  very  clearly  that  you  didn't  want 
to  have  anything  to  do  with  me. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  23 

Catherine. 

I  would  rather  not  discuss  that. 

George  Winter. 

\]Vith  a  chuckle.^  After  all,  it  isn't  as  if  I  cared  a 
tinker's  cuss  for  the  whole  lot  of  them. 

Catherine. 

\^Flushing.'\  And  you  think  that  makes  it  any 
better  ?  I  think  I  could  have  forgiven  you  if  you'd 
had  any  love  for  those  wretched  women.  But  it 
wasn't  even  that.  You  exposed  me  to  all  that 
humiliation  merely  to  gratify  your  vanity.  When  I've 
seen  how.  you've  treated  those  women  T,  even  I,  have 
been  sorry  for  them. 

George  Winter. 

If  you  like  I'll  give  you  my  solemn  word  of  honour 
that  you  shall  have  no  cause  to  complain  in  future. 

Catherine. 

It's  too  late.  You've  given  me  my  chance  of 
freedom  and  I  mean  to  take  it. 

George  Winter. 
You're  not  keeping  your  part  of  the  bargain. 

Catherine. 

What  d'you  mean  ? 

George  Winter. 

You  didn't  marry  me  because  you  were  in  love 
with  me  .  .  . 


24  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 
[^Interrujiting.^  That's  not  true. 

George  Winter. 
[With  a  smile.']  Think. 

Catherine. 

[Ifesitatinr/ .]  A  year  ago  I  would  have  said  again 
that  it  wasn't  true.     I  didn't  know  what  love  was. 

George  Winter. 

You  married  me  because  I  was  rich. 

Catherine. 

[Passionately.]  No,  no. 

George  Winter. 

I'd  just  won  a  seat  that  tV;ey'd  given  me  because 
they  thought  I  hadn't  a  chance.  I  won  it  oft'  my 
own  bat,  because  I  imposed  myself  on  Middlepool 
and  forced  them  to  vote  for  me.  I  was  in  the  public 
eye.  I  was  a  power  already.  The  world  seemed  at 
my  feet. 

Catherine. 

All  that's  very  harmless.  You  flattered  me.  The 
life  you  offered  me  seemed  so  large,  so  full,  and  I  was 
very  young.  I  was  dazzled  by  your  brilliancy  and 
your  success.     I  mistook  it  for  love. 

George  Winter. 

And  I  married  you  because  I  wanted  a  wife.  You 
happened  to  have  an  uncle  who's  a  duke,  and  aristo- 


THE  TENTH  MAN  25 

cratic  connexions  are  devilish  useful  in  England  to  a 
Radical  politician. 

Catherine. 

[Bitterly.]  Ob,  yes,  I  found  out  soon  enough  why 
you  married  me. 

George  Winter. 

lb  WAS  a  business  arrangement  on  both  sides,  and 
you've  had  your  full  share  of  the  profits. 

Catherine. 
[Outraged.]  Oh,  how  can  you  ? 

George  Winter. 

You'd  always  lived  in  a  pokey  way  and  I  gave  you 
magnificence.  I've  kept  even  the  spirit  of  my  part 
of  the  bargain.  Your  father  wasn't  mentioned  in  the 
settlements  But  every  stick  of  furniture  in  this 
house  has  been  bought  with  my  money.  The  very 
clothes  on  your  mother's  back  are  paid  for  by  me. 

Catherine. 
That's  not  true. 

George  Winter. 

You  don't  think  your  father  is  worth  the  money  I 
give  him.  He's  as  incompetent  as  all  the  rest  of 
these  damned  fools  w^ho  come  from  the  West-End  and 
think  they  can  make  money  in  the  City.  The 
nincompoop  thinks  himself  a  financial  authority. 
The  charwoman  of  a  l)ucket-shop  could  give  him 
points. 


26  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catiierixe. 
He  has  his  name  and  his  position. 

George  Winter. 

Nowadays  even  a  country  curate  will  fight  shy  of  a 
title  on  a  prospectus.  The  salaries  he  gets  are  merely 
payments  for  you. 

Catherine. 

Oh,  you've  said  all  this  so  often.  For  years  you've 
bullied  me  with  your  money.  I  was  such  a  fool, 
because  you  said  it  was  dishonest  of  me  to  go,  rather 
than  that  even  you  should  have  the  smallest  cause  to 
blame  me,  I  bore  everything.  I  clenched  my  hands 
and  suffered. 

George  Winter. 

[  With  a  chuckle.^  In  a  diamond  tiara  and  a  Paquin 
dress. 

Catherine. 

I  thought  I  should  have  the  strength  to  suffer  to 
the  end.  But  I  haven't.  If  you  bought  an  article 
and  it  hasn't  turned  out  worth  the  money  you  gave 
for  it,  that's  your  look  out.  You  see,  you've  taught 
me  something  after  all. 

[A  very  short  pause.     George  Winter  makes 
up  his  mind  to  try  compo'omise. 

George  Winter. 

Now,  look  here  ;  I'm  willing  to  meet  you  half-way. 
I  don't  ask  you  to  come  back  to  me.  You  can  live  as 
you  like  and  where  you  like.  I'll  give  3'ou  five 
thousand  a  year.     Your  father  can  keep  his  director- 


THE  TENTH  MAN  27 

ships.  The  only  thing  I  ask  is  that  you  shouldn't 
apply  for  a  divorce  and  that  you  should  appear  with 
me  at  certain  public  functions. 

Catherine. 

[Passionately ^^  I  want  to  be  free.  IVe  lived  in  an 
atmosphere  of  lies  and  hypocrisy  till  I  can  hardly 
breathe.  Your  good  nature  is  merely  a  pose.  Your 
generosity  is  merely  an  advertisement.  You  care  for 
nothing  but  your  own  self-advancement.  And  I  want 
to  be  rid  of  the  horrible  feeling  that  all  sorts  of  shady 
things  are  going  on  around  me  that  I  don't  know. 

George  Winter. 
[Sharply.^  What  d'you  mean  ? 

Catherine. 
I  know  that  you're  not  honest. 

[With  a  cry  of  rage  George  Winter  seizes  her 
her  hy  the  shoulders  violently.  His  jmssion 
for  the  moment  is  uncontrollable. 

George  Winter. 

What  d'you  mean  ?  What  d'you  mean  ?  What 
d'you  mean  ? 

Catherine. 

You're  hurting  me. 

George  Winter. 

[In  his  rage  hardly  able  to  articidate.^  Damn  you, 
how  dare  you  say  that  to  me  ? 


^8  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 
Let  me  go. 

George  Winter. 
Why  don't  you  answer  ?     What  d'you  mean  ? 

Catherine. 

[Shakwg  herself  free.]  I'll  tell  you  what  I  mean. 
I  know  that  if  the  occasion  arose  you  wouldn't  hesitate 
to  steal. 

George  Wixtei?. 
[With  a  laugh  of  relief  ]     Is  tliat  all  ? 

Catherine. 

For  years  I've  been  tortured  by  the  horror  of  it. 
Each  pearl  you've  given  me — and  you've  thrust  them 
upon  me — I've  asked  myself  if  it  was  honestly  come 
by.  And  that's  why  I  want  to  escape  from  you — not 
only  because  you've  been  odiously  cruel  to  me,  even 
now  when  you're  trying  to  persuade  me  to  return  to 
you,  and  because  you've  flaunted  before  me  one  vulgar 
intrigue  after  another — but  because  I  feel  that  all 
this  w^ealth  rests  on  lying,  and  swindling,  and 
roguery. 

George  Winter. 

\Ba7iteringly.]  Well,  you  must  confess  that  so  far 
I've  been  eminently  successful  in  not  getting  found 
out. 

Catherine. 

[Taking  no  notice  of  his  remark.]  And  now  surely 
you  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  me. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  29 

George  Winter. 

\]Vith  a  bland  smile.]  My  dear,  knowing  how 
important  it  is  to  me  that  you  should  return  to  the 
conjugal  roof,  you  don't  imagine  I  have  come  without 
some  means  to  persuade  you. 

Catherine. 

I  assure  you  you're  wasting  your  time.  You've 
always  told  me  it  was  valuable. 

George  Winter. 

[In  his  most  delightful  manner.]  You  seem  to  be 
under  the  delusion  it  rests  with  you  to  make  con- 
ditions. 

Catherine. 

I  make  no  conditions.  I  merely  announce  my 
decision. 

George  Winter. 

[Taking  a  letter  from  his  pocket  and  quietly  smooth- 
ing it  out  on  a  table.]  I've  never  suffered  from  that 
form  of  snobbishness  which  makes  many  self-made 
men  hurl  their  origin  in  the  face  of  a  British  public 
only  too  anxious  to  pretend  it  thinks  them  the  scions 
of  a  noble  house.  But  I  have  never  concealed  from 
you  that  mine  was  humble. 

Catherine. 
[Suspiciously.]     What  is  that  paper  ? 


30  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Gkorge  Winter. 

[Igjiorhig  the  rjuestio7i.]  That  is  one  of  the  pills 
you  had  to  swallow  when  I  married  you  and  your 
excellent  but  impoverished  family.  I  started  life  with 
neither  friend  nor  money,  but  with  exceptionally  fine 
parts.  I  soon  discovered  that  the  simplest  way  to 
succeed  is  by  blackmail.  It  is  astonishing  how  many 
men  keep  a  large-sized  skeleton  in  their  cupboards. 
If  you  only  get  a  sight  of  those  discreditable  bones, 
you  can  often  make  a  whole  family  your  bosom  friends. 
I'm  not  boring  you,  am  I  ? 

Catherine. 
You're  torturing  me. 

George  Winter. 

This  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  w^hich  you  may  remember. 
The  original  was  so  crumpled  that  I  can't  help 
thinking  you  were  romantic  enough  to  sleep  with  it 
under  your  pillow.  It  begins :  My  very  dear 
friend  .  .  . 

Catherine. 

[InteiTupting.]   How  did  you  get  that  ? 

George  Winter. 

I  can  never  understand  ^vhy  people  are  such  fools 
as  to  write  love-letters.  I  never  do.  I  only  send 
telegrams. 

Catherine. 

[With  Jl ashing  eyes,^  You  didn't  go  to  my  dressing- 
case  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  31 

George  Winter. 
[Amused.]  I  did  indeed. 

Catherine. 

[Looking  at  the  Bramah-key  on  her  bracelet.]  You 
broke  it  open  ? 

George  Winter. 

When  I  made  you  a  present  of  your  dressing-case, 
I  kept  the  duplicate  key  in  case  you  lost  yours. 

Catherine. 
It's  infamous.     It's — it's  just  like  you. 

George  Winter. 

[Smiling.']  Why  on  earth  were  you  so  incautious 
as  to  leave  it  behind  ? 

Catherine. 

[Indignantly.]  I  thought  I  could  trust  you.  It 
never  struck  me  that  you'd  pry  into  my  private 
papers. 

George  Winter. 


[With  a  chuckle.]  Nonsense.  You  were  so  taken 
with  the  dramatic  gesture  of  leaving  the  house  in  a 
pink  satin  opera  cloak  that  you  forgot  all  about  it. 


Catherine. 

There's   nothing   in  any  of   my  letters  that  I'm 
ashamed  of. 


32  TFIE  TENTH  MAN 

Geokge  Winter. 
Would  you  like  to  look  at  this  one  ? 

Catherine. 

[Ilefusing  to  take  it.~\  I  know  that  there  can  be 
absolutely  no  harm  in  it. 

George  Winter. 

I  wonder  what  a  clever  counsel  would  make  of  it. 
I  can  imagine  it  read  in  such  a  manner  that  those 
vairue  words  should  orather  form  and  substance.  A 
little  irony,  a  grotesque  emphasis  here  and  there, 
and  I  can  see  the  junior  bar  rolling  with  laughter. 
I  don't  imagine  a  parliamentary  light  like  3'our 
friend  Robert  Colby  would  take  ridicule  very  well. 
It's  only  by  his  entire  lack  of  humour  that  he's  risen 
to  the  exalted  position  he  now  adorns. 

Catherine. 
\_Frightened.^  What  d'you  mean,  George? 

George  Winter. 

[Good-humouredhj.]  My  dear,  I'm  going  to  bring  a 
counter  petition,  that's  all.  You  want  to  wash  your 
dirty  linen  in  public,  let's  have  an  entire  spring 
cleaning. 

Catherine. 

[Sco7'nfulhj.]  Oh,  my  dear  George,  if  you  only 
knew  how  indifierent  I  am  to  such  a  threat !  We 
haven't  done  anything  with  which  we  can  reproach 
ourselves. 


The  tenth  Man  3^ 

George  Winter. 

[Banteringly.]  You  astonish  me,  my  dear  Kale. 
Surely  it  can't  have  slipped  your  memory  that 
Robert  Colby,  snatching  a  brief  and  well-earned 
holiday  from  affairs  of  state,  made  a  tour  of  North 
Italy  last  Easter,  and  you  accompanied  him, 

Catherine. 

[Flaring  iij}.]  That's  not  true.  You  know  it's  not 
true.     I  went  with  Barbara  Herbert  .   .  . 

George  Winter. 

[Interru2)iing,  loith  a  tioinkle  in  his  eye.]  And  a 
maid.  It's  always  a  little  unsafe  to  trust  maids, 
especially  Scotch  maids  with  strongly  religious 
principles. 

Catherine. 

What  have  you  been  doing  ? 

George  Winter. 

[Taking  a  paper  out  of  his  jyocket.]  Here  is  another 
interesting  little  document  that  I've  been  at  some 
pains  to  acquire.  Being,  alas  !  aware  that  the  wife 
of  my  bosom  might — turn  troublesome  one  day  or 
another,  I  thought  it  safe  to  have  a  weapon  in  my 
hand  for  future  use.  It  is  a  list  of  the  hotels  at 
which  you  stayed.     Shall  I  read  it  to  you  ? 

Catherine. 
If  you  choose. 


34  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

[Hngeli/  amused.]  At  Milan  you  stayed  at  the 
Palace,  and  Robert  Colby  at  the  Cavour. 

Catherine. 
[^Sarcastically.]  Damning,  isn't  it  ? 

George  Winter. 

Bat  perhaps  finding  the  Palace  noisy_,  and  trusting 
in  Mr.  Robert  Colby's  better  judgment,  at  Venice 
you  both  stayed  at  the  Danielli. 

Catherine. 

[With  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders.]  Wliere  else  should 
one  stay  1 

George  Winter. 

I  find  in  my  Baedeker  that  there  are  twenty-seven 
hotels  in  Venice,  but  I  daresay  it  was  very  natural 
that  you  should  both  hit  upon  the  Danielli.  And 
you  took  the  precaution  of  arriving  twenty  hours 
after  him.  But  at  Ravenna,  flinging  prudence  to  the 
winds,  you  arrived  on  the  same  day,  by  the  same 
train,  and  you  put  up  at  the  same  hotel. 

Catherine. 
There  is  only  one. 

George  Winter. 

You  had  rooms  seventeen  and  eighteen,  and 
Barbara  Herb-^rt  had  loom  five. 


THE  TENTH  MAN    ^  35 

Catherine. 

There  was  only  one  vacant  room  on  the  first  floor, 
and  of  course  1  insisted  that  Barbara  should  take  it. 


George  Winter, 

Unselfish  in  the  extreme,  and  just  like  you,  my 
dear  ;  but  don't  you  think  it  was  a  little  indiscreet  ? 

Catherine. 

We  had  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of,  and  therefore 
we  had  nothing  to  fear. 

George  Winter. 

I've  often  thought  that  was  the  greatest  draw- 
back of  innocence.  It  makes  one  so  devilish 
imprudent. 

Catherine. 

I  went  to  Italy  with  your  express  consent.  I 
wrote  and  told  you  that  I'd  met  Hobert  Colby 
Chance  threw  us  together  in  Venice ;  we  found  we 
were  making  practically  the  same  tour,  and  we  joined 
forces.  I  saw  no  harm  in  it.  I  see  no  harm  in  it 
now.  You  can  make  what  use  of  the  admissions 
you  like. 

George  Winter. 

And  do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  persuade  a 
British  jury  that  you  and  Boberfc  Colby  travelled 
through  Italy  together  merely  to  look  at  churclies 
and  pictures 


36  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

George,  I  know  now  that  I  never  cared  for  you,  but 
I  proniise  you  on  my  word  of  honour  that  I've  never 
been  unfaithful  to  you. 

George  Winter. 

My  dear,  it's  not  a  question  of  convincing  me — I 
am  the  most  trusting,  the  most  credulous  of  mortals — 
but  of  convincing  the  twelve  good  men  and  true  who 
form  a  British  jury. 

Catherine. 

You're  not  a  fool,  George.  You  know  people,  and 
you  know  what  I'm  capable  of  and  what  I'm  not.  In 
your  heart  you're  certain  that  I've  done  nothing  that 
can  giv'C  you  any  cause  for  complaint.  I've  sufiered 
a  great  deal  during  these  four  years — I  wouldn't 
wish  my  worst  enemy  to  go  through  what  I  have — I 
implore  you  not  to  drag  me  through  this  horror. 

George  Winter, 

My  dear,  your  ^simple-mindedness  positively  takes 
me  aback. 

Catherine. 

\_Ind^gnantly^^  How  can  you  be  so  ignoble  ? 

George  Winter. 

[Droppiiig  his  bantering  tone,  qidcldy  and  sterni?/.] 
You  must  know  me  very  little,  Kate.  My  whole  life 
is  at  stake,  and  you  think  I'm  going  to  be  moved  by 
entreaties  or  abuse  ?  I'm  at  the  most  critical  point 
of  my  career.     Part  of  my  strength  is  that  I  never 


THE  TENTH  MAN  37 

deceive  myself.  I'm  only  an  adventurer.  My  millions 
are  paper  millions,  and  I  want  to  be  in  such  a 
position  that  if  I'm  in  need  of  half  a  million  I  can  go 
to  the  big  men  and  get  it,  and  if  one  of  them  asks 
me  for  half  a  million  I  can  afford  to  put  it  down. 
And  now,  if  only  I  hold  on,  I  shall  get  everything  I 
want.  And  you  come  and  whine  before  me  and  play 
the  fool.  What  d'you  think  I  care  for  your  twopenny- 
halfpenny  love-affairs  ?  Do  what  you  like.  I  don't 
care,  so  long  as  you're  not  flagrant. 

Catherine. 

[Indignantly.^  Oh  ! 

George  Winter. 

That  anyone  can  be  such    a   fool   as   to   let  love 
interfere  with  his  life  !     It's  so  unimportant, 

Catherine. 
To  me  it  means  the  whole  world. 

George  Winter. 

Well,  I   give    you  your  choice.     If  you  bring 'an 
action  against  me  I  bring  a  counter-petition. 

Catherine. 

[Stung  into  defidnce.]  My  choice  is  made  long  ago. 
I*m  strong  in  my  innocence. 

George  Winter. 

You'll  ruin  me  and   ruin  your  father,  but  you'll 
ruin  Robert  Colby  as  well. 


38  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 
[Quickly^  What  do  you  mean  ? 

CiEORGE  Winter, 

You  don't  mean  to  say  you're  so  simple-minded 
as  to  imagine  he  can  do  anything  but  resign  his 
seat  if  he  were  made  co-respondent  in  a  divorce  case? 
They  say,  if  we  get  in  again,  he's  to  be  given  the 
Ministry  of  War.  Humpty-Dumpty.  It's  the  end 
of  his  political  career. 

Catherine, 

[^Desjjerately.^  We  have  nothing  to  reproach  our- 
selves with.     Nothing. 

George  Winter. 

You  sent  a  note  to  him  last  night.  What  did  you 
say? 

Catherine. 

[Defiantly. 1  I  asked  him  to  come  here  at  twelve 
o'clock. 

George  Winter. 

[Tahing  out  his  ivatch.]  It's  nearly  twelve  now.  I'll 
wait.     And  you  shall  talk  to  him. 

[Eiiter  Anne  Etchingham  and  Teddie 
O'DoxNELL,  Anne  is  like  her  sister 
Catherine,  hut  smaller  and  slighter ;  she 
is  brighter  as  well  and  more  vivacious^  ivith 
pretty  caressing  ways.  Edward  O'Donnell 
is  an  insignificant,  amiable,  good'-looki7ig 
young  man  of  three-andrtwenty. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  39 

Anne. 

[As  she  comes  in.]   Good  morning,  good  people, 

Catherine. 
[With  a  2)^6asant^  affectionate  smile.]    Ah,  Nan, 

Anne. 

[Going  ujy  to  George  Winter.]  Well,  how  is  my 
great  brother-in-law  ? 

George  Winter. 
He's  in  his  usual  rude  health,  thank  you, 

Anne. 

I've  brought  Teddie  to  introduce  him  to  you, 

O'DONNELL. 

How  d'you  do  ? 

Anne, 

[With  ajfourish.]  This  is  the  Napoleon  of  Finance, 
He  owns  seventeen  companies,  five  gold  mines,  two 
railways,  a  house  in  Portman  Square,  two  places  in 
the  country,  a  yacht,  five  motor-cars,  the  family  of 
Etchingham  .  .  ,  , 

George  Winter. 

[Inte7Tupting»]  Take  a  long  breath  and  say  ninety- 
nine. 

Anne. 

[Laughing.]      Don't  be  ridiculous. 


40  rilE  TENTH  MAN 

George  AA^inter. 
Now,  what  is  it  you  want  ? 

Anne. 

I  ?  [Coaxingly.]  You're  an  old  dear,  George, 

George  Winter. 
I  thought  so.     Well,  what  is  it  ? 

Anne. 

I  want  you  to  give  Mr.  G'Donnell  a  job. 

Catherine. 

Anne  ! 

G'Donnell. 
I  say,  Nan,  you  needn't  put  it  so  bluntly. 

Anne. 

It's  no  good  beating  about  the  bush  with  George 
is  it? 

George  Winter. 
[Amused  and 2^hased.]     Not  much. 

Anne. 
Now,  sit  down  and  let  me  talk  sensibly  to  you. 

Catherine. 

Anne,  I'd  rather  you  didn't — just  now.      George 
anl  I  are  busy. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  41 

George  Winter. 

Have  they  interrupted  you,  darling?     I  thought 
you  had  nothing  more  you  wanted  to  say. 


Anne. 
Is  anything  the  matter  ? 

George  Winter. 

JSTothing.     Kate's  a  little   under  the  weather  this 
morning. 

Anne. 

Oh,  my  dear,  I'm  so  sorry.      What  is  it  ? 

George  Winter 

I  warned  you  not  to  eat  that  pate  de  foie  gras  last 
night,  my  dear.     It  always  disagrees  with  you. 

Catherine. 
Please  don't  worry  about  me. 

George  Winter. 

[To    Anne.]  Why   d'you   want    me    to   give    Mr. 
O'Donnell  a  job  ? 

Anne. 
Because  he's  my  young  man. 

George  Winter. 
Is  he,  by  Jove  ! 


42  THE  TENTH  MAN 

O'DONNELL, 

I  offered  lier  my  hand  and  heart  .  .  . 

AxxE. 

[Interrupting.]  And  being  a  practical  person  I 
promptly  inquired  what  were  his  worldly  possessions. 

O'DONNELL. 

They're  not  only  nil,  they're  astonishingly  nil.  In 
point  of  fact,  if  you  reckon  debts  they're  positively 
minus. 

Anne. 

So  I  fell  into  his  arms  and  said,  let  us  put  up  the 
banns  at  once. 

George  Winter, 
[Very  jolly  and  affable.]  That  s  where  I  come  in. 

Anne. 

Well,  I  thought  he  might  manage  one  of  your 
railways  or  be  your  chaufieur,  or  if  you  didn't  think 
he  was  good  enough  for  that  you  might  make  him 
director  of  one  of  your  companies. 

Catherine, 
Nan,  you  don't  know  what  you're  talking  about. 

Anne. 

Good  heavens,  if  papa  can  direct  companies  surely 
Teddie  can. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  43 

Catherine, 

No,  I  didn't  mean  that.  But  there  are  circum- 
stances that  you  don't  understand.  Mr.  O'Donnell 
can't  ask  George  to  do  anything  for  him.  Mr. 
O'DonneJl   .   .  . 

George  Winter. 

[Quite  good'humouredly.]  Really,  Kate,  you  might 
let  me  answer  for  myself. 

Anne. 

George  always  said  he'd  help  me  when  I  wanted  to 
marry. 

George  Winter. 

[To  O'Donnell.]  I  presume  your  idea  is  to  go  into 
the  City? 

O'Donnell. 
Yes,  more  or  less. 

George  Winter. 
Educated  at  a  public  school,  I  suppose  ? 

O'Donnell 
.  Yes,  I  was  at  Harrow. 

George  Winter. 

[With  a  twinkle  in  his  e7/e.]  Then  I  may  take  it 
that  you  tried  to  get  into  the  Army  and  failed  ? 

O'Donnell. 
Yes,  I  suppose  I  did. 


44  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

And  you  hadn't  got  enough  money  to  go  into  the 
diplomatic  ? 

Anne. 

How  on  earth  d'you  know.  George? 

George  Winter. 

Wlien  a  young  man  of  family  and  education  tells 
me  he  wants  to  go  into  the  City,  I  know  it's  because 
he's  too  incompetent  to  do  anything  else.  Fifty  years 
ago  the  fool  of  good  family  went  into  the  Church,  now 
he  gees  into  the  City. 

O'DONNELL. 

You're  not  very  flattering. 

George  Winter, 
I  dare  say  you'll  suit  me  all  right. 

Anne. 

Oh,  George,  you  are  a  brick. 

George  Winter. 
Give  me  a  kiss  and  I'll  find  him  a  job. 

Anne. 

T'll  give  you  two 

[/S'Ae  kisses  him  on  both  cheeks. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  45 

George  Winter. 
I  shan't  find  him  two  jobs. 

Anne. 

I  can't  imagine  why  everybody's  so  afraid  of  you, 
George.     You're  an  old  dear. 

George  Winter. 

A  heart  of  gold,  that's  what  I  always  tell  Kate. 
[7o  O'DoNNELL.]  Gome  and  see  me  to-morrow  morning, 
and  we'll  have  a  talk  about  things. 

O'DONNELL. 

It's  awfully  good  of  you. 

George  Winter. 

You  know,  you'll  have  to  do  as  you'ie  told  if  you 
come  to  me. 

O'DoNNELL. 

I  dare  say  I  shan't  mind  that. 

George  Winter. 

It's  not  always  pleasant  being  at  the  beck  and  call 
of  a  damned  bounder. 

O'DONNELL. 

How  d'you  mean  ? 

George  Winter, 

Of  course  you  look  upon  me  as  a  damned  bounder. 
I   know  that.     I    wasn't  educated  at  Harrow.     My 


46  THE  TENTH  MAN 

father  was  a  hatter  at  Middlepool,  a  Nonconformist, 
and  an  aitchless  one  at  that.  I  went  to  sea  when  I 
was  fourteen,  and  when  I  was  your  age  I  was  earning 
twenty- five  bob  a  week  as  clerk  in  a  bucket  shop.  Of 
course  I'm  a  damned  bounder. 

Anne. 
Now,  George,  don't  be  disagreeable. 

George  Winter. 

"Well,  run  along,  children  .  .  .  Have  you  spoken  to 
your  father  about  this  ? 

Anne. 
H^o^  we're  going  to  leave  you  to  do  that. 

George  Winter. 
Are  you? 

Anne. 

Well,  you  see,  father's  sure  to  kick  up  a  bit  of  a 
row  because  Teddie's  so  absolutely  stony,  but  if  you 
say  you've  given  him  a  job  .  .  . 

Catherine. 
Father  may  object  .  .  . 

Anne. 
Oh,  he  wouldn't  dare  if  George  said  it  was  all  right. 

[Catherine  gives  a  slight  gesture,  2^<^'^'i'tly  of 
vexation  and  partly  of  dismay. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  47 

George  Winter. 
[Kindly.]  Are  you  leally  very  keen  on  marrying  ? 

Anne. 

Awfully. 

George  Winter. 

Well,  I'll  see  what  I  can  do.     Good-bye. 

[He  7iods  to  O'DoNNELL.  O'DoNNELL  and 
AxNE  go  out.  As  soon  as  they  have  gone, 
Catherine  starts  ujj. 

Catherine. 

Geoi-ge,  you're  not  going  to  take  Teddie  O'Donnell 
in  your  service.     You  must  understand  it's  impossible. 

George  Winter. 
[Coolly.]  Why  ? 

Catherine. 

We  can  accept  nothing  from  you. 

George  Winter, 

This  disinterestedness  is  rather  a  new  trait  in  your 
family,  isn't  it? 

Catherine. 

You're  only  wasting  his  time  in  making  him  come 
doAvn  to  see  you  to-morrow. 

George  Winter. 
I  don't  suppose  it's  as  valuable  as  all  that. 


48  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

Anne  will  have  to  be  told  the  facts,  and  she'll  see  at 
once  that  it's  out  of  the  question  for  Teddie  to  accept 
favours  from  you. 

George  Winter. 
I  wonder. 

Catherine. 

[^Dejiantly?^  I  have  no  doubt  of  it. 

George  Winter. 

Do  you  think  she'll  be  pleased  when  she's  told  that, 
owing  to  your  unreasonableness,  her  marriage  can't 
take  place  ?  Are  you  sure  she  won't  say  that  she  has 
no  quarrel  with  me  ? 

Catherine. 

I  should  make  her  understand. 

George  Winter. 

It  seems  rather  selfish  on  your  part,  doesn't  it? 
If  Anne's  heart  is  set  upon  marrying  this  rather 
foolish  boy,  have  you  the  heart  to  prevent  her  ? 

Catherine. 

I've  sacrificed  myself  long  enough.  It's  Anne's 
turn  now. 

George  Winter. 

You'll  find  self-sacrifice  one  of  the  forms  of  self- 
indulgence  in  which  people  are  never  wiklly  anxious 
to  take  turn  and  turn  about. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  49 

Catherine. 

What  can  you  do  with  Teddie  O'Donnell  ?  He's  no 
good  to  you. 

George  Winter. 

I'm  not  sure.  I  like  dealing  with  gentlemen. 
When  they  go  into  the  City  they  take  to  dirty  work 
with  an  alacrity  which  you  often  don't  find  in  the 
City  man  born  and  bred. 

Catherine. 

Even  if  there  was  nothing  "else,  I  would  do  all  I 
could  to  prevent  a  decent  boy  from  being  exposed  to 
your  influence. 

George  Winter. 

Well,  you  may  try  yours  on  Anne.  Tell  her  that 
I'll  start  her  young  man  on  four  hundred  a  year,  and 
I'll  allow  her  a  couple  of  hundred  more,  so  that  they 
can  marry  next  week  if  they  want  to.  And  add  that 
you  are  divorcing  me,  and  it  would  be  monstrous  if 
either  of  them  accepted  my  offer. 

Catherine. 

Oh,  I  know  well  enough  that  you  didn't  make  him 
pretty  speeches  because  you  took  any  interest  in 
doing  a  kindness.  It  was  merely  another  coil  of  the 
chain  you've  twisted  round  me.  Oh,  it's  fiendish. 
Each  way  I  turn  I  find  that  you  bar  my  way. 

George  Winter. 

In  the  agitation  of  the  moment  you  seem  to  be 
mixing  your  metaphors,  my  dear. 

Thompson,  the  hiUler,  comes  in. 

D 


50  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Thompson. 
Mr.  Robert  Colby  has  come,  madam. 

George  Winter. 
Is  lie  waiting  downstairs  ? 

Thompson. 

I've  shown  him  in  the  morning-room.  He  said  he 
would  wait  till  you  were  disengaged,  ma'am. 

George  Winter. 

Ask  him  to  come  up.  [To  Catherine.]  I'll  leave 
you 

Thompson. 

Very  good,  sir.  [Exit, 

George  Winter. 

With  my  best  wishes.  I'll  go  and  discuss  the 
weather  and  the  crops  with  your  excellent  father, 
and  you  shall  discuss  the  situation  with  Robert  Colby. 

Catherine. 
•  For  goodness'  sake  leave  me  alone. 

George  Winter. 

►:>uggest  a  counter-petition  and  see  how  he  takes  it. 
My  own  impression  is  that  he'll  run  like  a  rabbit. 

[George  Winter  goes  towards  the  door  that 
leads  into  the  library  and  stojys. 


THE  TENTH  MAN        ^  51 

George  Winter. 

And  if  he  does,  you  know  whose  arms  are  open  to 
receive  you.  Whose  60  Mercedes  is  panting  to  take 
you  to  whose  sheltering  roof. 

[With  a  guffato  he  goes  out.  Catherine  gives 
a  sigh  of  exhaustion  and  then  braces  herself 
for  the  coming  interview. 

[Enter  Robert  Colby.  lie  is  a  handsome  man 
of  forty ^  spare  and  active,  icith  a  refined 
face  and  good  features.  He  is  cleayi  shaven. 
His  hair  is  grey.  He  has  charr)iing  manners 
and  an  air  of  slightly  old  fashioned  courtesy . 
His  voice  is  soft  and  pleasant. 

Thompson. 

Mr.  Robert  Colby. 

[Catherine  goes  to  him  vnth  both  hands  out- 
stretched. Her  manner  becomes  brighter 
and  more  joyous.  She  seems  to  throw  off 
the  load  of  y^retchedness  which  had  op- 
pressed  her.     The  Butler  goes  out. 

Catherine. 
How  good  of  you  to  come. 

Colby. 

[Taking  her  hands.]  You  look  as  if  you  were  sur- 
prised to  see  me. 

Catherine. 

You  must  be  frantically   busy.       I    thougl.t   you 
might  not  be  able  to  manage  it. 


52  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Colby. 

You  know  very  well  v/ild  Liboiu-  leaders  couldn't 
have  prevented  me. 

Cathehine. 

Of  course  I  know  you  wouldn't  really  let  me 
interfere  with  anything  serious,  but  it's  very  pleasant 
to  flatter  myself  that  the  whole  country  is  waiting 
while  you're  wasting  your  time  with  me.  D'you  know 
what  I've  done  ? 

Colby. 

I  suspected  what  your  note  meant,  but  I'm  anxious 
to  hear  it  from  your  own  lips. 

Catherine. 

I've  crossed  the  Rubicon.  I'm  seeing  my  solicitor 
to-day,  and  the  petition  will  be  filed  as  soon  as  ever 
it's  possible. 

Colby. 

I'm  so  glad.  You  had  no  right  to  go  on  with  that 
degrading  life. 

Catherine. 

I  want  you  to  assure  me  again  that  I'm  right. 
I'm  so  weak.     I  feel  so  utterly  defenceless. 

Colby. 
It  won't  be  very  long  now  before  .   .  . 

4 

Catherine. 

[Inte7Tupting.]  No,  not  yet,  Robert. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  S3 

Colby. 

I  want  to  tell  you  at  once  how  passionately  I  love 
you. 

Catherine. 

[]rith  the  tenderest  of  smiles,]  D'you  think  it's 
needful  ?  I'm  so  glad  to  think  you've  never  made 
love  to  me.  There  was  all  the  love  I^wanted  in  the 
look  of  your  eyes,  and  your  voic3,  though  you  said 
quite  commonplace  things,  told  me  that  you  cared 
for  me. 

Colby 

I've  never  even  kissed  your  hnnd,  Kate. 

Catherine. 

I'm  very  grateful  to  you.  Now  more  than  ever  I 
want  to  feel  quite  sure  that  we  have  nothing  to 
reproach  ourselves  with. 

Colby. 
It's  rather  hard  on  me. 

Catherine. 

Do  you  think  I  find  it  any  easier  ?  Sometimes 
when  I've  been  dreadfully  lonely,  dreadfully  wretched, 
I've  longed  to  be  able  to  rest  my  head  on  your 
shoulder,  and  I've  thought  I  might  have  loved  my 
tears  if  you  could  have  kissed  them  away. 

Colby. 

Were  you  angry  witli  me  when  I  wrote  to  you  ? 
The  one  foolish  letter? 


54  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

How  could  I  bo  ? 

Colby. 

I  was  dreadfully  unhappy  then.  Everything  I 
tried  seemed  to  go  wrong.  I  was  utterly  dispirited, 
and  I  couldn't  help  writing. 

Catherine. 

I  read  the  letter  till  I  knew  every  word  by  heart. 
Sometimes  I  wonder  how  I  could  have  borne  my  life 
at  all  except  for  the  knowledge  that  you  cared 
for  me. 

Colby. 

You've  never  once  told  me  that  you  love  me, 
Kate. 

Catherine. 

D'you  want  me  to  say  it  in  so  many  words  ?  Why 
else  d'you  think  I'm  exposing  myself  to  all  the 
humiliation,  all  the  horrors  that  are  before  me  ?  Yes, 
I  love  you  with  all  my  heart  and  soul. 

Colby. 
And  after  it's  all  over  ? 

Catherine. 
It  shall  be  as  you  wish. 

Colby. 
You've  meant   so   mucli    to   me,    Kate.     All   the 


THE  TENTH  MAN  55 

success  I've  had  I  feel  that  I  owe  to  you.  Sometimes 
I've  hated  the  intrigues  and  the  littleness  of  politics. 
I've  been  tempted  to  give  the  whole  thing  up.  But 
you  put  fresh  courage  into  me.  It's  because  of  you 
that  I've  been  able  to  ignore  the  rest  and  just  keep 
my  eyes  fixed  always  on  the  greatness  of  the  aim. 

Catherine. 

[Smil'mg?!^    It  makes  me  so  proud  to  hear  you  say 
that. 

Colby. 

\^Liyhthj.\     Did    you    read    the    speech    I    made 
yesterday  ? 

Catiietiine. 
No,  I'm  afraid  I  haven't  yet. 

Colby. 

[Gcdly.^     Wretched  woman  !     And  every  jack  one 
of  the  papers  has  given  a  leader  on  it. 

Catherine. 
I'm  so  sorry.     It's  horrid  of  me. 

Colby. 

[^Laughing .\     What  nonsense  !      Of  course  you've 
had  much  more  important  things  to  think  about. 

Catherine. 

Tell  me  all  about  it.     I  suppose  it  was  the  Army 
debate. 


56  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Colby. 

Ye«:,  I  bunifc  my  ships  behind  mo.  I  said  I  thought 
some  form  of  compulsory  service  was  essential. 
Perigal's  going  to  the  country  at  once.  I  think  we 
shall  get  in.  And  if  w^e  do  ...  I  wish  to  goodness 
they'd  give  me  the  War  Office.  Of  course,  after  six 
years  in  office  we  can  only  hope  for  a  small  majority, 
and  every  seat  will  count.  I  wonder  what  will  happen 
at  Middlepool. 

Catherine. 
George  is  very  popular. 

Colby, 

Yes,  that's  just  it.  As  long  as  he  was  there  the 
seat  was  safe.  I  wonder  if  anyone  else  will  be  able 
to  hold  it. 

Catherine. 

Do  you  think  it  will  be  impossible  for  him  to  stand 
again  ? 

Colby. 

Quite.  And  rightly.  No  man's  obliged  to  go  into 
Parliament.  If  he  does  it's  his  duty  to  keep  clear  of 
scandal. 

[Catherine  gives  a  very  slight  start,  and  ichen 
she  speaks  her  voice  is  not  quite  steady. 

Catherine. 

That  might  be  very  difficult.  A  man  might  be  an 
object  of  scandal,  and  yet  be  perfectly  innocent. 
Supposing — a  maliciousj  peison  brought  an  action  for 


THE  TENTH  MAN  57 

divorce  against  him.  It  might  be  merely  an  attempt 
at  blackmail.  It  would  be  monstrous  to  punish  him 
for  something  that  wasn't  his  fault. 

Colby. 

D'you  honestly  think  that's  a  possible  case?  It  a 
man  is  shot  at — it's  true  he  may  not  be  technically 
guilty — but  he  can  hardly  be  blameless.  If  a  case 
can  be  made  out  at  all  against  him  he  must  have 
done  something  very  foolish. 

[Catherine  does  not  ansiver.      She  is  terrified 
at  what  he  says, 

Colby. 

George  Winter  only  went  into  the  House  for  his 
private  ambition.  He  contested  a  seat  in  order  to 
give  himself  a  stronger  financial  position,  and  now  he 
wants  to  use  his  money  to  force  himself  into  some 
sort  of  job.     We've  got  no  use  for  people  like  that. 

Catherixe. 

\_As  if  she  loere  changing  the  conversation.^  I  wonder 
what  you'd  do  if  you  were  beaten  at  the  General 
Election  ? 

Colby. 

[^With  a  laugh,]  I  don't  think  my  constituents  will 
throw  me  out  as  long  as  I  behave  myself. 

Catherine. 
[Smiling.]  And  if  they  did  ? 


58  .  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Colby. 

[After  a  little  pause.]  It  would  just  about  break  rue 
up.  Politics  are  my  whole  life.  I  can't  imagine 
existence  without  the  House  of  Commons.  And  I 
have  so  much  to  do.  If  they'll  only  give  me  a  chance 
I  want  to  .  .  .  [Suddenly  sto2:)]nng  himself.]  But,  good 
heavens,  I'm  just  going  to  make  a  speech. 

Cathertxe. 

Oh,  my  dear,  I'm  so  proud  of  you.  I  admire  you 
so  enormously, 

Colby. 

[Gaily.]  Not  yet.  Hang  it  all,  wait  to  admire  me 
till  I'm  Minister  of  War. 


Catherine. 

[With  an  affectionate  smile.]  You  dear.  .  .  .  Now 
you  must  go.  I've  got  ever  so  much  to  do,  and  I'm 
sure  you  ought  to  have. 


Colby. 

Good-bye,  then.     God  bless  you.  .  .   .   Say  some- 
thing nice  to  me  before  I  leave  you. 


Catherine. 
I  shall  think  of  you  all  day  long. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  59 

Colby. 

Thank  you.     Good-bye. 

[ZTe  goes  out.  Catherine  sinks  exhausted  into 
a  chair,  but  she  hears  George  "Winter 
approach  and  pulls  herself  together.  lie 
comes  in  tvith  Etchingham. 

George  Winter. 

The  great  man  has  taken  his  liook  ? 

[Catherine  acknowledges  his  remark  tvith  a 
look,  hut  does  not  answer. 

George  Winter. 
I  heard  his  fairy  footsteps  on  the  stairs 

Etchingham. 


things. 


Well,  Catherine,  I  hope  you've  thought  better  of 

George  Winter. 

Well  ? 

\_IIe  looks  at  her  vnth  malicious  amusement^ 
and  she,  her  head  thrown  back^  stares  at 
him  loith  hatred  and  anger, 

Catherine. 

You  think  every  man  is  a  rogue,  don't  you  ? 

George  Winter. 

Certainly  not.     I   think  nine  men  out  of  ten  are 
rogues  or  fools.     That's  why  I  make  money. 


6o  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

And  Avhat'll  you  do  when  you  come  across  the 
tenth  man,  who's  neither  rogue  nor  fool  ? 

George  Winter. 
[F/ippantli/.]  Put  him  under  a  glass  case. 

Catherine, 
You  may  find  him  awkward  to  deal  with.  Take  care. 

George  Winter. 

I  shall.  But  I've  looked  for  him  so  long  that  I 
can't  help  thinking  he  doesn't  move  in  my  set.  .  ,  . 
Now  and  then  I've  thought  I'd  really  got  him.  But 
while  I  was  scratching  my  head  and  wondering  how 
the  deuce  I  was  going  to  manage,  I've  seen  an  itching 
palm  steal  softly  out,  and  I  knew  it  w\asn't  the  tenth 
man  after  all. 

The  Butler  comes  in. 
Thompson.      ^ 

[To  George  Winter.]  Mr.  Bennett  would  like  to 
speak  to  you,  sir. 

George  Winter 

Is  he  on  the  telephone  'i 

Thompson. 
No,  sir.     He's  here. 

Etchingham. 
What  the  deuce  can  he  want? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  6i 

George  Winter. 
I'll  come  down  to  him, 

Etchingham. 

No,    let  him  come  up.       Perhaps   it's    something 
important,  and  he'll  want  to  see  me  too. 

George  Winter. 
[Dril7/.'\  Perhaps.     Tell  him  to  come  up. 

Thompson. 
Very  good,  sir.  [Exit, 

Catherine. 
Who  is  Mr.  Bennett  ? 

Etchingham. 

He's  the  secretary  of  two  or  three  of  our  companies. 
He  manages  the  office  and  that  sort  of  thing. 

George  Winter. 

He  does  all  the  work  for  which  your  father  gets 
fees. 

Etchingham. 

I  don't  know  about  that.    I  flatter  myself  I'm  worth 
my  salt. 

[The  Butler  shoivs  in  Frederick  Bennett. 
He  is  a  little  Tivtn,  thin,  iniddle-aged,  clean 
shaven,  loith  a  sharp  face,  and  an  extremely 
respectable    appearance.       He   wears    gold 


62  THE  TENTH  MAN 

spectacles f  lie  is  in  a  tail  coat  and  carries 
a  tall  hat  in  his  hand.  The  Butler  cjoes 
out  after  announcing  him. 

George  Winter. 
What's  the  matter,  Fred  ? 


Bexxett. 

I  went  round  to  Portman  Square,  Governor,  and 
they  told  me  you  were  here ;  I  thought  I'd  better 
come  on  at  once. 

Etchixgham. 
Nothing  has  liappened,  Mr,  Bennett  ? 

Bennett. 

No,  my  lord.  [7o  George  Winter.]  May  I  speak 
to  you  for  a  moment.  Governor  ? 

George  Winter. 
Yes.     Etchingham,  d'you  mind  .  .   .  ? 

Etchingham. 

Of  course  not. 

[//e  goes  up  to  Catherine,  who  is  standing  at 
the  v'indoio,  and  begins  talking  to  her.  The 
conversation  between  George  Winter  and 
Bexnett  proceeds  in  a  lower  tone,  sinking 
almost  to  a  whisper  as  it  goes  on. 


THE  TENTH  MAN         ^  63 

George  Winter. 

What  the  devil's  the  matter,  Fred?  You're 
looking  like  a  dying  duck  in  a  thunderstorm. 

Bennett. 
There's  been  a  cable  from  Macdonald,  Governor. 

George  Winter. 

Good  business.  And  vvhen's  the  report  due  ?  I 
suppose  it's  following. 

Bennett. 

Yes. 

George  Winter. 

Why  the  deuce  didn't  you  ring  me  up  ?  I'd  have 
come  down  to  the  office  at  once.  Now  we've  got  that 
we  can  fire  away. 

Bennett. 

I  wouldn't  risk  it  on  the  phone.  You  never  know 
who's  listening. 

George  Winter. 

Drivel.  You're  an  old  woman,  Fred.  Have  you 
got  it  on  you  ? 

Bennett. 

It's  not  what  you  expect,  Governor. 


64  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 
[Seizing  his  wrist.]  Wliat  the  hell  d'you  mean  ? 

Bennett.  , 

It's  rotten.     It's  .   .  . 

George  Winter. 

[Interrupting  violently.']  You  filthy  liar,  what  are 
you  talking  about  ? 

Bennett. 
Take  care,  they'll  hear  you. 

George  Winter. 
Where  is  it  ? 

Bennett. 
I've  got  it  in  my  pocket. 

George  Winter. 
If  you've  been  playing  the  fool  with  me,  Fred  .   .  . 

Bennett. 

[Taking  out  the  cahle^  I'm  in  it  as  deep  as  you  are. 

[George  Winter  takes  the  cable,  is  just  going 

to  unfold  it,  when,  sick  with  ajyprehension, 

he  hesitates,      lie  is  too  terrified  to  read  it. 

George  Winter. 
What  does  it  say,  Fred  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  65 

Bennett. 

Why,  there's  nothing  there.     We've  been  done  in 
the  eye.     The  mine's  worthless. 

[George  AVinter  turns  away  from  him,  a  look 
of  fear  and  hew'dderment  on  his  face.  For 
a  moment  he  hesitates  uncertain  what  to  do, 
then  quickly  makes  up  his  mind  and 
clenches  his  teeth, 

Bennett. 
[Going  up  to  him?^  Governor. 

George  Winter. 

If  that's  true,  the  hundred  thousand  we  paid  for 
it  might  as  well  have  been  thrown  down  a  drain-pipe. 

Bennett. 

What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

George  Winter. 
Do  ?     Fight  it  out. 

Etghtngham. 

\Comjing  forward^^  Nothing  serious,  I  hope,  George? 

George  Winter. 
[Over  his  shoulder.]  Nothing. 

Bennett. 

[In  a  whisper.]    You  know  what  it  means  if  you 
fail? 


66  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 
The  Old  Bailey.     But  I  shan't  fail. 

The  Butler  comes  in. 

Thompson. 
Luncheon  is  ready,  my  lord. 


END    OF   THE    FIRST   ACT. 


THE  SECOND  ACT 

The  scene  is  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  act,  the  draw- 
ing room  of  Lord  Francis  Etchingham's  house  in 
Norfolk  Street. 

It  is  afternoon.  Lady  Francis  is  seated,  working  at 
embroidery  on  a  drum.  Catherine  stands  at  the 
window^  looking  out  into  the  street. 

Lady  Francis. 
Aren't  yoa  tired,  Kate  ?    , 

Catherine. 
\Still  looking  out  oftlie  window.]     No,  mother. 

Lady  Francis. 
You  were  out  all  the  morning. 

Catherine. 
I  went  to  see  my  lawyers. 

Lady  Francis. 

[With  a  sigh.]     I  can't  understand  that  with  such  a 

67 


68  THE  TENTH  MAN 

father   and  such   a  mother,   you  should   be   such   a 
monster  of  determination. 

[Catherine  neither  answers  nor  turns. 

Lady  Francis. 

'lAfter  a  quick  look  at  her.']  Dr.  O'Farrell  says 
your  father  will  be  well  enough  to  come  downstairs 
to-morrow. 

Catherine. 

I'm  glad  of  that. 

Lady  Francis. 

This  is  the  second  attack  of  gout  he's  had  this 
year. 

Catherine. 
Poor  old  thing ! 

Lady  Francis. 

Aren't  you  tired  of  staring  at  the  house  opposite  ? 
You're  not  expecting  anyone,  are  you  ? 

Catherine. 
No. 

Lady  Francis. 

You're  dreadfully  restless.  \]Vith  a  faint  smiles] 
I'm  growing  quite  exhausted. 

[Catherine  gives  a  little  cry  of  astonishment 
and  alarm. 

Lady  Francis, 
What's  the  matter  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN       .  69 

Catherine. 

\^Tu7niing  round  and  coining  forward.^     George  hus 
just  driven  up. 

Lady  Francis. 
I  suppose  he's  come  to  see  your  father. 

Catherine. 

They  mustn't  let  him  up.     I  won't  see  him.     It's 
monstrous  that  I  should  have  to  put  up  with  this. 

Lady  Francis. 

My  dear,  don't  worry.     George  hasn't  made  any 
attempt  to  see  you  for  a  fortnight. 

[George  Winter  comes  in  hurriedly,  unan- 
nounced;  he  shuts  the  door  behind  him, 

Catherine. 

\_Indignantly.'\     What  d'you  want  ?     You've  got  no 
right  to  force  yourself  upon  me. 

[She  makes  a  movement  to  leave  the  room,  but 
he  interce2:)ts  her.  He  takes  a  paper  out  of 
his  pocket. 

George  Winter. 
I've  just  been  served  with  this. 

Catherine. 
What  else  did  you  expect  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN 


George  Winter. 


Your  father  told  me  that  nothing  was  going  to  be 
done  for  the  moment. 

Catherine. 

I  can't  help  what  father  said.     It's  my  bu.siness. 
I  can  allow  no  one  to  interfere  with  me. 

Lady  Francis* 
What  is  that,  George  ? 

George  Winter. 

Would  you  like  to  look  at  it  ?     It's  an  interesting 
document. 

Catherine. 
It's  the  petition,  mother. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  wish   I   had    my  glasses.      I've  never  seen  one 
before. 

George  Winter. 

[Grimly.]     You've  been  lucky. 

Lady  Francis. 
[  JVith  an  acid  smile. \     Or  virtuous. 

George  Winter. 

\7o  Catherine.]     You've  got  to  \\ithdraw  thi.s. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  71 

Catherine. 

Surely  you  must  see  that  from  now  all  communica- 
tions between  us  must  pass  through  our  lawyers. 

George  Winter. 

Eats ! 

[Catherine  cr^ossesthe  room  and  rings  the  hell 
at  the  side  of  tliefireplace. 

George  Winter. 
What  are  you  ringing  for  ? 

Catherine 
For  Thompson  to  open  the  door  for  you. 

George  Winter. 
That's  excessively  thoughtful  of  you. 

Catherine, 
Mother,  can't  you  protect  me  from  this  ? 

Lady  Francis. 

My  dear,  your  husband  is  six  feet  high,  and  broad 
in  proportion.  I'll  tell  Thompson  to  kick  him  down- 
stairs if  you  like  .  .  . 

George  Winter. 

But  it's  not  a  job  that  any  well-regulated  butler 
would  enjoy. 

\The    Butler   comes    in,   and   loaits  for   ari 

order. 


72  rilE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

Oh,  Thompson,  I'm  expecting  three  gentlemen  here 
at  five  o'clock.  You'll  show  them  into  the  library, 
and  let  me  know  the  moment  they  come. 

Thompson. 
Very  good,  sir.  [Re  goes  out. 

Catherine. 
What  do  you  mean  by  this  ? 

George  Winter. 

That's  precisely  what  I  came  to  tell  you  ...  I 
suppose  you've  been  talking.  There've  been  re- 
ferences to  a  dispute  between  us  in  the  Middlepool 
papers,  and  the  Herald,  the  Conservative  rag,  has 
stated  in  the  current  issue  that  you  are  divorcing 
me. 

Catherine. 

The  Middlepool  papers  are  singularly  well-in- 
formed. 

George  Winter. 

That's  where  you're  mistaken.  The  Argus  is 
printing  a  special  edition  vv'ith  a  complete  and 
authoritative  denial  of  the  whole  story.  I've  issued 
a  writ  for  libel  against  the  Herald. 

Catherine. 

One  lie  more  or  less  on  your  conscience  can  make 
no  great  difference  to  you. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  73 

George  Winter. 

I've  explained  your  presence  here  by  your  suscep- 
tibility to  fresh  paint. 

Lady  Francis. 
What  do  you  mean  ? 

George  Winter. 

\With  a  chuckle.^  The  day  after  Kate  left  Portman 
Square  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  house 
needed  re-decorating.  I'm  having  it  papered  and 
painted  from  cellar  to  attic.  When  it's  finished 
I  sha,ll  start  again. 

Lady  Francis. 
Fortunately  the  British  workman  takes  his  time. 

George  Winter. 

But  that's  not  enough.  The  Middlepool  people 
are  nervous  about  the  whole  thing.  You  know 
Svvalecliffe — he's  the  Nonconformist  minister — one 
of  those  confounded  busybodies  who  go  poking  their 
noses  into  everybody's  private  life.  He's  on  my 
committee.  He  and  Ford  control  the  dissenting 
interest  between  them  .  .  .  They've  got  it  into  their 
heads  that  they  want  the  truth  from  you. 

Catherine. 
Me  ? 

Lady  Francis. 
Who  is  Ford  ? 


74  THE  TENTH  MAN 

i       George  "Winter. 

Oh,  he's  tlie  ricliest  man  in  Middlepool.  He's  one 
of  my  directors  on  the  INIiddlepool  Investment  Trust. 
Hard  as  nails !  Slirewd  as  they  make  'em  !  But  a 
Nonconformist  to  the  tips  of  his  fingers.  He's  just 
built  a  Congregational  church  out  of  liis  own  pocket. 
He's  a  ccrker  to  deal  with. 


Lady  Francis. 

But  I  don't  understand.  AVhat  do  these  men  want 
Kate  to  do  ? 

George  Winter. 

They're  coming  here  at  five  o'clock  with  Boyce,  my 
agent,  to  ask  Kate  if  there's  any  truth  in  the 
rumours. 

Lady  Francis. 
But  it's  outrageous ! 

George  AVinter. 

Of  course  it's  outrageous  !  But  what  d'you  expect 
from  a  parcel  of  sneaking  Middlepool  dissenters  ? 

Lady  Francis. 

And  what  do  you  expect  Kate  to  say  ? 

George  Winter. 

She's  going  to  say  it's  the  first  she's  heard  of  it. 
Then  they're  going  to  ask  her  if  she's  divorcing  nie, 
and  she's  going  to — repudiate  the  suggestion  with  all 
the  scorn  at  her  command. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  ,75 

Catherine. 
I  refuse  to  see  these  people. 

George  Winter. 
Do  you  ? 

Catherine. 

YSat^ricaUy.^^  Or  do  you  want  me  to  tell  them 
before  your  face  that  every  word  they've  heard  is 
true  ?  Yes,  I'll  see  them.  I'll  settle  the  whole 
thing.  And  then  I  shall  be  rid  of  this  persecution. 
But  I  shall  tell  them  the  exact  truth. 

George  Winter. 

[Grimly  Jtumorous.^  It's  not  five  o'clock  yet. 

[The  Butler  comes  in,  folloioed  hy  Mr. 
Perigal.  This  is  the  Prime  Minister.  He 
is  a  stout Ish  man  of  middle  height,  clean- 
shaven, ivith  abundant  grey  hair  ivorn 
long.  His  face  is  sensiial,  shrewd  and 
bland ;  his  manner  is  kindly  and  re- 
st7'ained. 


Mr.  Perigal. 


Thompson. 

[Exit 


Lady  Francis, 
[Coixlially.\  My  dear  Bob,  this  is  kind  of  you. 

Perigal. 
How  d'you  do?     Well,  Kate? 


76  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

You  never  come  and  see  us  now  you're  Prime 
Minister. 

Perigal. 

It's  a  delusion  of  tlie  public  that  the  Prime 
Minister  has  nothing  to  do  but  pay  afternoon  calls. 
[He  turns  to  George  Winter.]  I'm  very  glad  to  see 
you  here. 

George  Winter. 
On  the  best  possible  terms  with  my  mother-in-law. 

Lady  Francis. 
Well,  when  are  you  going  to  dissolve  Parliament  ? 

Perigal. 

[^Making  himself  comfortable  in  an  arm-chair.^  I've 
been  so  busy,  I  haven't  had  time  to  read  the  papers 
for  some  days.     What  do  the}-^  say  about  it  ? 

Lady  Francis. 
Don't  be  irritating.  Bob. 

Perigal, 

My  dear,  a  wise  Prime  Minister  looks  upon  it  as  a 
privilege  to  fulfil  the  intelligent  anticipations  of  the 
press. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  hope  it's  not  true  that  you're  going  to  give  Emily 
Lascelies  the  Home  Office  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  77 

Perigal. 

Good  heavens,  you  talk  as  if  your  sex  were 
already  comfortably  installed  in  the  House. 

Lady  Francis. 

You  know  perfectly  what  I  mean.  It  doesn't 
matter  about  the  men,  because  all  the  work  is  done 
by  the  permanent  officials.  But  their  wives  are  quite 
another  matter.  I  tell  you  frankly  it  will  be  a  great 
mistake  if  Emily  Lascelles  goes  to  the  Home  Office. 

Perigal. 
Why? 

Lady  Francis. 

She  can't  entertain.  She  doesn't  know  a,  word  of 
French.     She  dresses  abominably. 

Perigal. 

[Iro7ticaUi/.]  That  settles  it.  Emily  Lascelles  shall 
not  go  to  the  Home  Office. 

George  Winter. 
[With  a  smile.]  That  is  how  history  is  made. 

Lady  Francis. 

Oh,  George,  Frank  bought  a  print  of  Napoleon  the 
other  day  that  he  wants  to  show  you.  Do  come  up, 
will  you  ? 

George  Winter. 
Of  course. 


78  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Lady  Francis. 
George  collects  things  about  Napoleon,  you  know. 

Perigal. 

Ah,  the  Napoleon  of  Finance.  .  .  .  I'm  soiiy  to 
hear  that  Frank  is  laid  up. 

Lady  Francis. 

Oh,  he's  much  better  to-day.  We  shall  only  be 
five  minutes.  \^She  goes  out  loith  George  Winter. 

Perigal. 

How  naturally  your  mother  did  that !  It  almost 
took  me  in. 

Catherine. 

\Gravely.^^  Have  you  come  to  see  me  by  arrange- 
ment ? 

Perigal. 

I'm  up  to  my  eyes  in  work !  I'm  afraid  I  could 
hardly  find  time  for  a  chat  in  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon without  a  rather  special  object. 

Catherine. 
I  suppose  not. 

Perigal. 

But  your  husband's  presence  leads  me  to  suppose 
that  your  common  sense  has  made  my  errand  un- 
necessary. 

Catherine. 

Haven't  you  heard  of  the  life  we  led  together  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  79 

Perigal. 

I  make  a  point  of  never  believing  the  disagreeable 
things  that  are  said  about  a  man  who  subscribes  so 
handsomely  to  the  Party  funds  as  your  husband. 

Catherine. 
Then  I  have  you  against  me  too  ? 

Perigal. 

My  dear  child,  I've  known  you  all  your  life.  Your 
mother  is  my  first  cousin.  We  all  desire  nothing 
more  than  your  happiness. 

Catherine. 
George  was  served  with  the  petition  this  morning. 

Perigal. 

Ah !  ...  It  appears  that  two  prominent  sup- 
porters of  your  husband  are  coming  up  from  Middle- 
pool  this  afternoon  to  get  from  your  own  lips  a  denial 
of  the  rumours  that  have  been  circulating  in  the  con- 
stituency. 

Catherine. 

I  can  promise  you  that  they're  not  going  to  get  it. 

Perigal. 

I  wish  I  could  persuade  you  to  pause  before  you 
take  such  an  irrevocable  step. 

Catherine. 
But  why  should  you  care  ? 


8o  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Perigal. 

We've  been  in  for  six  years.  We're  dissolving 
Parliament  at  once.  I  don't  know  if  we  shall  get  in 
again.  It'll  be  a  very  close  shave.  We  can't  aftbrd 
to  risk  a  couple  of  seats.  .  .  . 

CatherIxVE. 
A  couple  ? 

PERIC4AL. 

The  Chief  Whip  tells  me  that  your  husband  pro- 
poses to  lodge  a  counter  petition. 

Catherine. 

If  it  weren't  so  odious^  the  idea  would  be  laughable. 
I  promise  you  that  .  .   . 

Perigal. 

Yes,  yes,  of  course.  Neither  you  nor  Robert 
Colby  has  anything  to  reproach  himself  with.  That 
is  obvious.  But  .  .  .  well,  I  gather  that  the  evi- 
dence is  such  that  a  prima  facie  case  could  be  made 
out.  It  would  be  awkward  just  at  this  moment,  for 
all  of  us — I  myself  could  wish  that  my  relationship  to 
your  dear  mother  weren't  quite  so  close.  The  British 
people  for  some  reason  always  judge  moral  delin- 
quencies on  the  Radical  side  with  great  severity.  I 
have  always  thought  it  a  hardship  that  the  Tories 
should  have  a  sort  of  prescriptive  right  to  the  more 
amusing  forms  of  immorality. 

Catherine. 
Let  us  understand  one  another  plainly.     Do  you 


THE  TENTH  MAN  8i 

mean  that  if  my  husband  drags  Robert  C^olby  through 
the  Divorce  Court,  you'll  throw  Robert  overboard, 
even  if  his  innocence  is  proved  through  and  through  ? 

Perigal. 

My  dear,  no  one  is  so  innocent  that  there's  not 
occasion  for  many  people  to  shake  their  heads  and 
say  :  One  never  knows.  I  don't  suppose  any  Prime 
Minister  woLild  invite  a  man  to  enter  his  cabinet 
who'd  been  co-respondent  in  a  divorce  suit. 


Catherine, 

of  1 
concealment  of  the  fact. 


It's  nothing  short  of  blackmail.     George  makes  no 


Pertgal. 

He  has  a  brutal  frankness    which    is    sometimes 


rather  engaging. 


Catherine. 


Oh,  you  drive  me  mad.  My  whole  happiness  is  at 
stake,  and  you  can  pause  to  smile  at  that  odious 
cynicism.  .  .  .  You've  known  Robert  and  me  all  our 
lives.  Won't  you  believe  in  us?  Won't  you  stand 
by  us  ? 

Perigal. 

\yery  kindly ^^  My  dear,  in  the  position  entrusted 
to  me  I  can't  take  risks.  ...  I  dare  say  you  know 
that  one  of  the  items  in  our  programme  is  a  modified 
form  of  compulsory  service.  I  don't  know  that  I 
altogether  like  it  myself,  but  it'll  take  the  wind  out 
of  the  Tory  sails,  and  we've   got  to   do  something. 


S2  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Robert  has  enthusinsm  nncl  he  believes  in  the 
measure.  He's  just  the  man  to  pilot  it  through  the 
House. 

Catherine. 

He's  Sethis  heart  on  getting  the  War  Office. 

Perigal. 

[Smiling.]  AYell,  you  have  it  in  your  hands  to  give 
it  him. 

Catherine. 

I  ?  Does  he  know  that  George  Winter  has  made 
certain  threats  ? 

Perigal. 
I  think  not. 

Catherine. 

Oh,  what  a  responsibility  you  put  upon  me. 

Perigal. 

That  generally  goes  with  power,  and  at  the  moment 
you  have  that  too. 

Catherine. 

\After  a  moment's  reflection.]  Robert  and  I  have 
never  hidden  anything  from  one  another.  He 
wouldn't  wish  me  to  decide  on  a  matter  that  concerns 
us  both  so  nearly  without  consulting  him.  Do  you 
object  to  my  putting  the  whole  thing  before  him  ? 

Perigal. 

Not  a  bit !  But  I  can  tell  you  at  once  what  his 
answer  will  be.     He'll  say  that  he  loves  you,  and  if 


THE  TENTH  MAN     ^  83 

lie  must  choose  between  you  and  everything  that  has 
seemed  to  make  his  life  worth  living,  he  chooses  you 
without  a  moment's  hesitation. 

[Catherine  gives  a  little  sigh  of  relief  and 
delight. 

Perigal. 

But  while  he's  in  the  very  act  of  renouncing  the 
world  for  your  sake,  look  into  his  eyes,  aud  perhaps 
you'll  see  in  them — oh,  only  for  a  moment,  and  you'll 
have  to  look  sharply — the  shadow,  the  merest 
shadow  of  regret.  .  .  .  And  perhaps  in  ten  years, 
when  I  bring  an  ill-spent  life  to  a  close,  you'll  say  to 
yourself:  If  I  hadn't  sacrificed  him,  he  might  be 
standing  now  in  the  shoes  of  that  poor  old  incom- 
petent Perigal. 

Catherine. 

[^Roarsehj^  more  moved  than  she  loishes  to  show.^^  I 
don't  believe  Robert  is  ambitious. 

Perigal. 

You  have  to  be  a  shrewd  observer  always  to  know 
the  difference  between  ambition  and  patriotism. 

Catherine. 
I  could  think  the  world  well  lost  for  love. 

Perigal. 

Yes,  but  you're  a  woman.     D'you  think  a  man  can  ? 

[Catherine  does  not  answer.  Her  face  ex- 
^jr esses  the  agony  of  her  S2nrit  «sPerigal's 
words  sink  in. 


84  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Perigal. 
May  I  i-ing  and  ask  if  my  carriage  lias  come  back  ? 

Catherine. 
Let  me  !  \^She  rings  the  hell. 

Perigal. 

I  asked  Colby  to  fetch  me  in  it  so  that  we  might 
rim  down  to  the  House  together. 

\^The    Butler    enters   to   announce    Robert 
Colby,  and  goes  out. 

Thompson. 
Mr.  Colby. 

Colby. 

I  thought  I'd  come  up  for  one  moment  just  to  say 
how  d'you  do. 

Catherine. 

\^Forcing  some  gaiety  of  manner.^  I  should  have  been 
furious  if  you  hadn't. 

Perigal, 

Of  course !  .  .  .  I'll  just  go  up  and  see  your  father. 

Catherine. 
He  will  be  so  pleased,     I'll  take  you  up. 

Perigal. 

No,  no,    no,   no  !     I    couldn't  hear   of  it.     I  can 
easily  find  my  way. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  85 

Colby, 

I'll  do  my  best  to  entertain  you  while  Mr.  Perigal 
is  gone.  [Mr.  Perigal  leaves  them,  and  Colby  goes  up 
to  he?'  gaily.  ]  I  jumped  for  joy  when  he  sent  mo  a 
note  asking  me  to  call  for  him  here. 

Catherine. 

[Smiling.']  You  might  have  come  of  your  own 
accord. 

Colby. 

I'm  always  afraid  that  I  shall  bore  you  if  I  come 
too  often.  I  rack  my  brains  for  plausible  excuses  to 
present  myself  at  your  front  door.  .  .  .  What's  the 
matter,  Kate? 

Catherine. 

With  me  ?     Nothing. 

Colby. 
I  thought  you  seemed  worried. 

Catherine. 

D'you  know  that  you  haven't  shown  the  least  desire 
to  kiss  me  ? 

Colby. 

I  ?     My  dear,  I  was  obeying  your  strict  commands. 

Catherine. 

If  you  really  wanted  to,  you  wouldn't  have  cared 
two  stiaws  for  my  commands. 


86  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Colby. 
[Going  towards  her.]  My  darling  ! 

Catherine. 

Oh  no,  don't.  I  don't  beg  for  .  .  .  [She  breaks  off.'] 
If  you  didn't  think  of  it  of  your  own  accord,  it's  too 
late. 

Colby. 

What  on  earth's  the  matter  with  you  ? 

Catherine. 
If  you  love  me  why  don't  you  say  so  sometimes  ? 

Colby. 

Good  heavens,  it's  on  the  tip  of  my  tongue  every 
moment  of  the  day  !  I  have  to  hold  myself  in  to 
prevent  falling  at  your  feet  and  telling  you  how  much 
I  care. 

Catherine. 

Oh,  forgive  me !  If  you  knew  how  dreadfully 
sometimes  I  long  for  a  word  of  love  ! 

Colby. 
[Tahing  her  in  his  arms.l  Darling  ! 

Catherine. 

Oh,  it's  too  hard  to  restrain  myself  always.  Have 
T  been  peevish  and  horrible  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  87 

Colby. 

\Swjiling  tenderly .\  Of  course  nob. 

Catherine. 
But  I  want  to  know  you  love  me. 

Colby. 
Kate! 

\^He  turns  her  face  to  him  and  kisses  her  on 
the  lij^s. 

Catherine. 

[llidi^ig  her  face  and  beginning  to  cry  on  his  shoidder.^ 
You're  all  I  have  in  the  world.  I  don't  know  what  I 
should  do  if  I  lost  you. 

Colby. 

In  a  very  little  while  now  we  shall  belong  to  one 
another  for  good  and  all. 

^  Catherine. 

[Looking  up,  withdraiving  herself  a  little  and  looking 
into  his  eyes.]  I  wonder  how  much  you  love  me  ? 

Colby. 
With  all  my  heart,  with  all  my  soul ! 

Catherine. 
D'you  love  me  enough  to  .  ,  . 

[She  hi^eaks  o;ff  and  turns  away  from  him. 

Colby. 

Wliat  ? 


88  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 

NotliiDg.  I'm  being  silly  and  sentimental.  [Smilmg.] 
Let's  be  wise  and  as  well  behaved  as  we  generally 
are. 

Colby. 

I  can't  understand  you  this  afternoon,  Kate. 
You're  so  different. 

Catherine. 

I  shall  frighten  you.  You've  never  realized  that 
I'm  a  creature  of  moods.  Are  you  sure  it's  wise  to 
link  your  life  to  a  woman  who's  capable  of  making 
almost  a  scene  without  any  provocation  ? 

Colby. 
If  you  had  a  bad  temper  I  think  I  should  love  it. 


Catherine. 
[Chaffing  him.]  Oh  ! 

Colby. 
[St7'etching  out  his  hands.]  Kate  ! 

Catherine. 

[Quite  cheerfully^  as  if  she  ivere  bantering.]  I  want  to 
put  a  purely  hypothetical  case  to  you.  Supposing 
you  had  to  choose  between  me  and  your  career — 
which  would  you  choose  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  89 

Colby. 

[^Smiling. '\  You,  of  course. 

Catherine. 
How  glibly  you  say  it ! 

Colby. 

Fortunately  I  shall  never  be  forced  to  make  such  a 
tremendous  choice. 

Catherine. 
Of  course  not. 

Colby, 

Then  why  the  dickens  do  you  suggest  it  ? 

Catherine. 

Because  I'm  nervous  and  restless  and  rather  bored. 
I  wanted  to  hear  you  say  that  you  wouldn't  hesitate 
to  sacrifice  the  world  for  my  sake. 

Colby. 
You  absurd,  delightful  creature  ! 

\_She  is  all  smiles  and  coquetry,     Suddenly  the 
tears  force  themselves  into  her  eyes  aiul  her 
'"  voice  breaks. 

Catherine. 
Bob! 

[She  stretches  out  her  hands  and  he  takes  her  in 
his  arms  and  kisses  her  passionately ;  she 
breaks  away  from  him  and  stands  panting. 


90  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Mr.  Perigal  comes  in  foUoived  hy  Francis 
Etchixgham,  irho  weavs  ou  0116  foot  a  large 
felt  slip2)er^  and  walks  with  a  stick. 

Perigal. 
Your  father  insisted  on  coming  downstairs. 

Etchingham. 

I  really  can't  stand  my  room  any  longer.     And  I 
can  walk  quite  well  now. 

Catherine. 

I    thought    Dr.  O'Farrell    said    you    were  to  stay 
upstairs  till  to-morrow,  father, 

Etchingham. 

O'Farrell's  an  idiot. 

Colby. 

[Smiling.]  It  certainly  looks  as  if  you  were  better 
when  you  start  abusing  your  doctor. 

Perigal. 
[To  Colby.]  I  hope  I  haven't  kept  you  waiting? 

Colby. 
Not  a  bit ! 

Perigal. 

[Very  amiably.]  Lady  Francis  has  been  showing  me 
an  old  photograph. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  91 

Etchingham. 

[^Settling  hiviself  heavily   into  an    armchair.^  That 
little  joke  of  Angela's  didn't  quite  come  off. 

[Catherine  gives  him  a  footstool  and  2^uts  his 
foot  on  it. 

Perigal. 

I  looked  at  it  blankly,  and  then  she  said  :  Don't 
you  remember  ?  It's  so-and-so.  It  gave  me  quite  a 
start.  It  was  the  photograph  of  a  young  lady  I'd 
been  so  madly  in  love  with  that  I  asked  her  to  bolt 
with  me — married  woman  and  all  that  sort  of  thing — 
and,  would  you  believe  it  ?  thirty  years  have  passed 
since  then,  and  upon  my  soul  I  didn't  know  her  from 
Adam ! 

Etohingham. 
Or  Eve ! 

[Catherine  loohs  at  him  gravely,  seeing  the 
apj)lication  to  herself  of  his  story. 

Colby. 
You  must  congratulate  yourself. 

Perigal. 

Well,  my  friends,  I  do.  I'm  not  a  high-minded, 
quixotic  fellow  like  you,  and  I  don't  mind  telling  you 
that  I  find  it  very  agreeable  to  be  Secretary  for 
Foreign  Affairs  and  Prime  Minister.     And  yet,  at  the 


92  THE  TENTH  MAN 

time,  if  anyone  bad  given  me  the  choice  between  my 
present  position  and  a  trip  across  Europe  with  the 
object  of  my  afiections,  I  wouldn't  have  hesitated. 

Colby. 

A  merciful  providence  evidently  bad  you  under  its 
care. 

[Catherine  gives  a  slight  start  and  rises  as  she 
hears  these  ivords,  and  looks  at  him  steadily/. 

Perigal. 

Well,  we  must  be  off.  "We  mustn't  let  even  this 
charming  lady  interfere  too  much  with  the  working 
of  the  British  Empire. 

Catherine. 


Good-bye. 


Perigal. 


You  must  get  your  mother  to  show  you  that 
photograph.  Thirty  years  ago  I  thought  the  little 
hussy  much  more  attractive  than  that.  \_Ttiinmg  to 
Etchingham.]  Good-bye,  Fiank.  I  hope  your  fcot'll 
be  all  right  in  a  day  cr  two. 

[Perigal  and  Colby  go  out. 

Etchingham. 

I  remember  that  little  woman  quite  well.  Not 
much  to  look  at,  I  wondered  at  the  time  what  Perisal 
saw  in  her. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  93 

Catherine 
You  don't  want  me  just  now,  father,  do  you  ? 

Etchingham, 
No,  dear.     Are  you  going  out  ? 

Catherine. 

I'm  only  going  to  my  room.     I  want — I  want  to 
be  alonfe  for  a  little  bit. 

Etchingham. 
Oh! 

l^ljefore  she  can  give  any  explanation,  the 
Butler  comes  in  to  announce  Bennett, 
and  she  takes  advantage  of  this  to  inake  her 
escape. 

Thompson. 

Mr.  Bennett.  \Exit, 

Etchingham, 

Ah,  Mr.  Bennett,  forgive  me  if  I  don't  get  up. 

Bennett. 
I'm  glad  to  see  you're  better,  my  lord. 

Etchingham. 
Is  anything  the  matter  ? 

Bennett. 

\Jiur'prised?\^  I  thought  your  lordship  expected  me. 
You  telephoned  ? 


94  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etch  INGHAM. 
I? 

Bennett. 

Perhaps  the  Governor  .  .  . 

Etching  HAM. 

[^Interrupting. ^^  Ah,  yes,  of  course.  George  didn't 
mention  it.  I  suppose  he  wants  me  to  sign  cheques. 
I  can  do  it  just  as  well  here  as  at  the  office.  I  expect 
Mr.  Winter  is  in.     Would  you  mind  ringing  ? 

Bennett. 
Certainly. 

[Before  he  can  ring,  George  Winter  comes  in. 

George  Winter. 

I've  given  orders  that  no  one  is  to  be  let  up  until 
those  people  arrive  from  Middlepool. 

Etchingham. 

By  Jove,  I'd  forgotten  all  about  them.  I  say, 
George,  you  made  a  mistake  in  letting  them  come. 

George  Winter. 

And  I've  told  Lady  Francis  that  we  shall  want  this 
room  to  ourselves,  and  no  one's  to  come  in  without 
knocking  at  the  door. 

Etchingham. 
By  the  way,  was  it  you  who  sent  for  Bennett  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN         .  95 

Geokge  Winter. 

It  was.  Your  gout  has  come  in  very  handy.  Sit 
clown,  Fred.  We'd  better  make  ourselves  cosy. 
Quite  comfortable,  Etchingham  ? 

Etchingham. 
Quite,  thank  you. 

George  Winter. 

Foot  all  right  ? 

Etchingham. 

I  don't  feel  it  at  the  moment. 

[Throughout  the  next  scene  George  Winter  is 
as   gay   and  jovial   as   possible.      He   is 
thoroughly  amused  by  the  tortu7'e  he  is  in- 
flicting.   He  plays  with  Francis  Etching- 
ham as  a  cat  loould  with  a  mouse, 

George  Winter. 

I  thought  you  might  like  to  know  at  once  that 
Macdonald's  report  on  the  mine  has  come. 

Etchingham, 

Ah,  that's  good  news.     Now  we  can  get  to  work  at 
once. 

George  Winter, 

Have  you  got  it  with  you,  Fred  ? 
Bennett. 


Ye.^^ 


sir. 


96  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

I'm  sure  his  lordship  would  like  to  have  a  look 
at  it. 

Etchixgham. 

Yes,  hand  it  over,  Bennett.  This  is  really  a  thrill- 
ing moment.  I  believe  I'm  going  to  make  my  fortune 
at  last. 

George  Winter. 

As  you  justly  remark,  it's  a  thrilling  moment. 

[Bennett  takes  the  report  out  of  a  desjmtch- 
case  and  hands  it  to  Etchingham. 

Etchingham. 

Impressive  document,  isn't  it  ? 

[He  smoothes  it  out  and  begins  to  read, 
George  Winter  ivatches  him  vnth  a 
certain  amusement. 

George  Winter. 
Bather  technical,  isn't  it? 

Etchingham. 

\Someiijhat  irritably.]  Upon  my  soul,  I  don't  know 
why  Macdonald  can't  put  it  into  plain  English  ? 

George  Winter. 
I'm  thankful  he  didn't  put  it  any  plainer. 

Etchingham. 

I  must  honestly  confess  that  I  don't  quite  grasp 
what  he  means. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  97 

George  Winter. 

I  thought  you  wouldn't.  Tlie  long  and  the  short 
of  it  can  be  told  in  two  words. 

Etchingham. 

[Putting  down  the  report  with  a  slight  sigh  of  relief .^ 
Ah! 

George  Winter. 

The  mine  was  practically  worked  out  when  we 
bought  it.  There's  no  gold  there  worth  speaking  of. 
We've  been  done  in  the  eye,  and  we're  eighty  thousand 
pounds  to  the  bad. 

\There  is  a  moment's  pause.  ETCHiNcnAM 
looks  at  George  Winter  blankly,  Bennett 
glances  nervously  from  07ie  to  the  other. 

Etchingham. 

[Hardly  able  to  speak,  his  tongue  sticking  to  his 
throat.^  You're — you're  joking  ! 

George  Winter. 
Read  the  report. 

Etchingham. 
[Looking  at  it  helplessly.^  Then   .   .   . 

George  Winter. 

Your  fortune  is  beginning  to  look  rather  silly,  isn't 
it?     So's  mine. 

Etchingham. 

Is  this  true,  Mr.  Bennett  ? 


98  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Bennett. 
I'm  afraid  it  is,  my  lord. 

Etching  HAM. 
My  God  !     What's  to  be  done  now  ? 

George  Winter. 
What  do  you  think  ought  to  be  done  ? 

Etch  INGHAM. 
I? 

George  Winter, 

You're  chairman  of  the  Syndicate.     Your  opinion 
can't  fail  to  be  valuable. 

Etchingham. 
[Hesitatingly.]  We  must  just  pocket  our  Joss. 

George  Winter. 
H'm! 

Bennett. 

With  things  in  their  present  state  a  loss  like  that 
is  about  as  much  as  we  can  stand. 

Etchingham. 
The  slump  must  come  to  an  end  soon. 

George  Winter. 
We've  been  saying  that  for  the  last  two  months. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  99 

Etchingham. 
Then  what  the  deuce  is  to  be  done  ? 

George  Winter. 
That's  what  we're  asking  you. 

Bennett. 
We've  got  the  Lewishams  to  reckon  with. 

George  Winter. 
N^ow's  tlieir  time  to  make  a  raid  on  us. 

Etchingham. 

[Iloarsel)/.]  It  doesn't  mean  that  we  smash  up, 
George  ? 

George  Winter. 

[Taking  out  his  ivatch.]  Boyce  will  be  here  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour. 

Etchingham. 

George,  don't  play  the  fool  now.  I've  put  all  my 
eggs  in  this  basket.  I  thought  I  was  going  to  be  rich 
at  last.  I  wanted  to  get  out  of  the  whole  thing.  I 
wanted  to  live  quietly  and  comfortably. 

Bennett. 

What  are  you  going  to  do.  Governor  ? 

George  Winter. 
[Looking  at  Etchingham.]  Suppress  the  report. 

[Bennett  gives  a  start,  but  does  not  speak. 


100  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

Go  ahead  as  if  \ve  believed  in  the  mine.  We've  got 
the  Government  expprt's  report  on  which  we  bought 
the  thing.     We'll  put  that  in  the  prospectus. 

Etchingham. 
Bat  isn't  that  dishonest? 


Very. 
George ! 


George  Winter. 

Etching  nAM. 
George  Winter. 


It's  an  axiom  in  mining  circles  that  when  you've 
got  hold  of  a  rotten  thing  the  proper  course  is  to 
pass  it  on  to  the  British  public. 

Etchingham. 

The  public  will  find  out  there's  no  gold  there  when 
you  pay  no  dividends. 

George  Winter. 

Oh,  we'll  pay  dividends  for  a  year  or  two.  By 
then  we  shall  have  turned  the  corner,  and  we'll  find 
another  carrot  for  the  British  public. 

Etchingham. 
But  you  say  yourself  it's  dishonest. 

George  Winter. 
There's  another  point  you  seem  to  have  forgotten, 


THE  TENTH  MAN        ^  loi 

EtchixghAM. 

What  is  that  ? 

[George  Winter  pauses  and  looks  at  Mm  for 
an  instant  reflectively. 

George  Winter. 

We  paid  for  the  mine  with  money  that  didn't 
belong  to  us. 

Etchingiiam. 

What  d'you  mean  ? 

George  Winter. 

We're  in  exactly  the  same  position  as  the  shop-boy 
who  sneaks  five  bob  from  his  master's  till  to  put  it 
on  a  horse.  If  the  horse  comes  in  he  puts  it  back, 
and  if  it  doesn't,  he  get's  a  month's  hard  labour.  .  .  . 
We  shall  get  seven  years. 

Etchingham. 
What  are  you  talking  about,  George  ? 

George  Winter. 

Has  it  escaped  your  memory  that  you  and  I  are 
Directors  of  the  Middlepool  Investment  Trust  ? 

Etchingham. 
Well? 

George  Winter. 

We  had  to  plank  down  eighty  thousand  pounds 
within  twenty-four  hours  or  lose  the  mine. 


I02  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Bennett. 
It  looked  like  a  certainty. 

George  Winter. 

At  that  moment  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  raise 
anj'thing  like  that  sum.  The  bank  held  a  hundred 
thousand  pounds  of  bearer  bonds  for  the  Middlepool 
Investment  Trust.  They  delivered  them  on  an  order 
signed  by  you,  me,  and  Bennett.  We  borrowed  on 
them  and  completed  the  purchase  of  a  worthless 
mine. 

Etchingham. 

But  I've  never  signed  anything. 

Bennett. 

Yes,  you  did,  my  lord.  They  wouldn't  have  deli- 
vered the  bonds  without. 

Etchingham. 
Then  my  signature's  been  forged. 

George  Winter 

Don't  you  remember  one  day,  after  an  excellent 
luncheon  at  Pym's,  you  were  just  off  to  a  wedding, 
and  I  asked  you  to  come  up  into  the  office  and  sign 
some  papers  ? 

Etchingham. 

But  I  never  looked  at  them.     I  didn't  know  .  .  . 

George  Winter. 
[Interrujiting  blandl//.]  Ah,  that's  your  affair. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  103 

Etchingham, 
[IndignajitlT/.]  I  shall  go  to  the  police. 

George  Winter. 

D'yoLi  think  you'v^e  got  a  plausible  story  to  tell 
them  ?  It  sounds  devilish  improbable  that  a  busi- 
ness man,  a  chairman  of  half  a  dozen  companies, 
should  sign  documents  without  looking  at  them. 
Bennett  and  I  will  swear  that  you  carefully  read 
everything  tliat  was  put  before  you — as,  indeed,  was 
your  duty,  my  dear  friend — and  fully  understood  the 
nature  of  your  act. 

Etchingham. 

Mr.  Bennett,  you'll  testify  that  I  never  realized 
for  a  moment  what  I  was  doing.  You  told  me  they 
were  purely  formal  documents.  I  saw  George  sign 
them.     I  added  my  signature  without  hesitation. 

George  Winter. 

I  think  Mr.  Bennett  would  be  more  than  human 
if  he  cleared  you  at  his  own  expense. 

Bennett. 

If  there  were  any  trouble,  my  lord,  I  should  have 
to  tell  the  truth. 

Etchingham. 

That's  just  what  I  want  you  to  do. 

Bennett. 
I  should  have  to  say  that  you  agreed  with  us  in 


I04  THE  TENTH  MAN 

the  necessity  of  borrowing  the  bonds  with  tiie  idea 
of  putting  them  back  as  soon  as  we'd  floated  the 
company,  and  that  you  signed  the  order  to  the  bank 
with  full  knowledge  of  the  seriousness  of  your  act. 

George  Wixter. 
What  is  truth,  said  jesting  Pilate. 

Bennett. 
You're  just  as  deep  in  it  as  we  are,  my  lord. 

Etchingham. 

Oh,  my  God  ! 

George  Winter. 

It's  no  use  losing  one's  head  because  one's  in  a 
tight  place. 

Etchingham. 

You've  tricked  me.  You're  a  common  swindler. 
in  a  month  w^e  may  all  be  in  prison. 

George  Winter. 

I  hear  they  make  you  very  comfortable  there 
nowadays. 

Etchingham. 

Well,  I  see  my  duty  before  me.  I  didn't  know, 
but  now  there  can  be  no  excuse  for  me.  I  must  go 
to  Scotland  Yard  at  once.  I  shall  make  a  clean  breast 
of  the  whole  thirjg. 

George  Winter. 

D'you  think  that'll  help  you  ?  It  may  mean  five 
years  instead  of  seven 


THE  TENTH  MAN  105 

Etchingham. 

Every  one  will  know  that  I'm  incapable  of  such 
an  act. 

George  Winter. 

Don't  be  a  silly  fool.  Listen  to  me.  We've  got 
you  tight.  If  we  go  under,  you  go  under  too.  Let 
there  be  no  doubt  in  your  mind  about  that. 

Etchingham. 

I  must  do  my  duty. 

George  Winter. 

Your  duty  is  to  keep  your  head  and  help  us  out  of 
the  mess  as  best  you  can. 

Etchingham. 

But  nothing  can  be  done.  The  mine's  worthless. 
How  are  we  to  raise  eighty  thousand  pounds  ? 

George  Winter. 

We've  got  six  weeks  before  we  need  replace  the 
bonds.  If  we  can  do  it  by  then  no  one  will  ever 
know  they've  left  the  cellars  of  the  bank. 

Etchingham. 

There's  no  more  chance  of  replacing  them  in  six 
weeks  than  there  is  the  day  after  to-morrow. 

George  Winter. 

Yes,  there  is,  if  we  can  float  the  company.  That's 
where  you  come  in.     I've  got  to  keep  my  seat.     I 


ic6  THE  TENTH  MAN 

want  all  my  prestige.  I  can't  have  a  divorce.  You 
must  go  to  Kate  at  once,  and  tell  her  that  the  only 
way  she  can  save  you  from  prison  is  by  telling  these 
men  who  are  coming  from  IMiddlepool  that  she  has 
no  cause  for  complaint  against  me. 

Etchingham. 
Good  God  !     I'd  forgotten  Kate. 

Bennett. 

It's  only  by  going  on  now  that  we  can  save  our- 
selves and  the  money  that's  invested  in  our 
companies. 

Etchingham. 

[Irritably.^  You  wouldn't  have  got  into  such  a 
mess  w^ith  Kate  if  you  hadn't  made  such  a  damned 
fool  of  yourself.  Why  couldn't  you  leave  these  women 
alone  ? 

George  Winter. 

[With  a  chuckle.^  My  dear  fellow,  you  speak  as  if  I 
were  to  blame.  They  simply  flung  themselves  into 
my  arms.  It  w^ould  have  been  very  rude  if  I  hadn't 
occasionally  pressed  them  to  my  bosom. 

Bennett. 
It's  not  much  the  Governor  asks  you,  my  lord. 

Etchingham. 

To  go  and  tell  my  daughter  that  I'm  a  thief  and  a 
swindler,  and  throw  myself  on  her  mercy  1 


THE  TENTH  MAN  107 

George  Winter. 

That's  it. 

Etchingham. 

I'll  see  you  damned  first  ! 

George  AVixter. 

Tlie  alternative  is  prison  .  .  .  It's  not  very  nice, 
penal  servitude— is  it,  Fred  ?  You  know  all  about  it. 
You  can  tell  him. 

Bennett. 

[With  a  gasp.^  Governor  ! 

Etchingham. 
What  does  he  mean  ? 

George  Winter. 

Fred's  a  solicitor  who  was  struck  off  the  rolls.  He 
was  sentenced  to  three  years  for  misappropriating  a 
client's  money. 

Etchingham. 

Good  God  !     Is  that  true,  Mr.  Bennett  ? 

Bennett. 

[Ashamed.']  Yes,  my  lord. 

Etchingham. 
I  never  knew. 

George  Winter. 

Of  course  you  didn't.     It's  not  the  kind  of  thing 


io8  THE  TENTH  MAN 

you'd  expect  him  to  brag  about,  is  it  ?  But  it'll  go 
wor.-e  with  him  if  we'ie  found  out,  because  he's  been 
at  it  before.     Tell  him  what  it's  like,  Fred. 

Bennett. 
\With  agony. ^  Oh,  Governor,  don't ! 

George  Winter. 

I  knew  him  before  he  went  in.  His  name  was 
Feltman  then.  And  when  they  let  him  out  I  took 
him  because  I  felt  sure  he  had  everything  to  gain  by 
sticking  to  me,  and  everything  to  lose  by  giving  me 
away. 

Etchingham. 
My  God  ! 

George  Winter. 

He  can  tell  you  what  you're  in  for.  What  the 
broad  arrow's  like  to  wear,  and  what  the  food's  like 
to  eat.  And  the  work — it's  a  healthy  life,  regular 
hours — you're  strong  for  your  age.  I  don't  see  why 
you  shouldn't  break  stones  in  the  quarries  with  the 
rest  of  us.  Hour  after  hour  with  your  back  feeling 
as  if  it  were  going  to  break,  and  your  arms  aching, 
aching,  but  not  so  badly  as  your  heart. 

[Bennett   breaks   doioi    and   sobs,  dijfficidtly 
trying  to  restrain  himself. 

George  Winter. 

And  you  count  the  days,  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  in  a  year,  and  j^ou  wonder  if  they'll  ever  come  to 


THE  TENTH  MAN  109 

an  end.  And  your  mind  keeps  on  working.  It 
woukln't  be  so  bad  if  you  were  a  brainless  hulk  like 
the  man  who's  sweating  away  be.'-ide  you  ;  but  you 
think,  and  you  can't  help  thinking.  And  you  curse 
yourself.  And  you  think  of  the  people  outside  who 
are  free  to  do  as  they  like,  and  you  think  of  the 
spring-time  and  the  flowers,  and  you  think  of 
the  pleasant  streets  of  London.  And  then  there's 
the  regret  which  wrings  your  heart  day  after  day, 
and  you  wish — you  wish  a  thousand  times  you  were 
dead.  You  sleep,  you're  too  tired  not  to,  even  though 
you've  got  hunger  gnawing  at  your  vitals,  for  you're 
hungry,  always  hungry — and  in  your  sleep  you  dream 
that  you're  back  again  in  your  home,  happy  and 
comfortable ;  and  when  you  wake  up  and  feel  your 
hard  prison  bed,  you  cry  like  a  child. 

Bennett. 
Oh,  my  God  !     My  God  ! 

George  Winter. 

And  then  when  you  come  out,  it's  not  over.  You 
slink  along  the  streets,  feeling  that  it's  written  on 
your  forehead  for  every  one  to  see,  and  your  heart 
beats  when  you  catch  sight  of  a  policeman.  And  at 
night  it  all  comes  back  to  you.  You  see  it  again,  the 
warders,  the  convict  gang,  the  prison  food,  and  your 
back  aches  with  the  labour.  And  you  wake  shriek- 
ing with  terror,  shrieking,  shrieking  ! 

[There  is  a  pause.  Etchingham  looks  straight 
in  front  of  him  unth  dull,  stony  eyes. 
Bennett    cowers    brokenly,   trembling    in 


no  THE  TENTH  MAN 

every  limb.  There  is  a  knock  at  the  door. 
Taj).,  tap.,  tap.  Even  George  Winter 
starts  and  a  shiver  runs  throucjh  him.  The 
knocking  is  repeated. 

George  Winter. 

[Angry  ivith  his  own  nervousness.]  Wlio  the  devil's 
that  ?     Come  in  ! 

The  Butler  enters. 
George  Winter. 
What  is  it  ?    I  told  yon  we  weren't  to  be  disturbed. 

Thompson. 

The  gentlemen  have  come,  sir. 

[George  Winter  reflects  for  an  instant,  and 
gives  Etchingham  a  7'a2)id  glance. 

George  Winter. 
I'll  ring  when  you  can  show  them  up. 

Thompson. 
Very  good^  sir.  ,  [Fxit. 

George  Winter. 

[Abruptly.]  Now  go  to  Kate,  tell  her  what  I've 
told  you,  and  say  the  only  way  she  can  save  you  is  by 
giving  in. 

Etchingham. 

[Hoa^'sely.]     I'll  see  you  damned  first. 
George  Winter. 

[Astoimded.]     What ! 


THE  TENTH  MAN  iii 

Etchingham. 

[Gathering  strength  and  courage.]  I  tell  you  I 
won't.     And  you  can  go  to  Hell  ! 

Bennett. 
My  lord,  you  don't  know  what  you're  doing. 

George  Winter. 

[Uardly  able  to  believe  his  ears.]  D'you  mean  to 
say  you  refuse  to  speak  to  Kate  ? 

Etchingham. 

If  I  speak  to  li^r  it'll  only  be  to  tell  her  that  you're 
a  rotten  scoundrel,  and  it's  worth  her  while  to  put  up 
with  anything  to  be  rid  of  you. 

George  Winter. 
It  means  seven  years,  you  know  that,  don't  you  ? 

Etchingham. 
For  you  and  that  dirty  convict  there. 

George  Winter. 

You  think  you  can  get  off  by  turning  on  us,  but 
you  can't.     We've  got  you  tight. 

Etchingham. 

You  miserable  fellow,  d'you  think  I  shall  try  to 
escape  my  penalty  ? 


112  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 

[With  angry  imjxitience.]  It's  tomfoolery.  We 
haven't  got  time  for  highfalutin  now.  Those  fellows 
cant  be  kept  waiting  all  night.  Kate's  the  only 
person  who  can  save  us,  and  you  .   .   . 

Etchixgham, 

[Tltrowing  the  icords  at  him.]  I  tell  you  I  won't. 
You've  made  a  catspaw  of  me.  And  you  thought 
you'd  only  got  to  say  the  word  and  I'd  come  to  heel. 

George  Winter. 

[Contemptuously.]  You's^e  done  it  often  enough 
before. 

Bennett. 

Don't  expect  any  mercy  from  him,  my  lord.  He'll 
do  you  in  as  sure  as  eggs  is  eggs. 

Etchingham. 

I  don't  want  any  mercy.  You  think  you've  got  me 
tight.  Don't  you  know  that  I've  got  a  way  of  escape 
whenever  I  choose  to  take  it. 

George  Winter. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

Etchingham. 

That's  my  business. 

[George  Winter   understands;  he   draics   a 
long  breath. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  113 

Bennett. 
\_In  a  whisper.^  \  What  does  he  mean,  Governor  ? 

Geoege  Winter. 
D'you  think  you'd  have  the  courage  ? 

Bennett. 

\Understanclmg^^  Ah  !  .   .  .     I  tried  it  once,  but  I 
couldn't  do  it.    My  hand  shook.     I  let  them  take  me. 

George  Winter. 

[Bedectively.]  I  hadn't  thought  of  that.     You  can 
shoot  yourself. 

Etchingham. 

[Bitterb/  sai^castic]     I'm  obliged   to   you    for    the 
permission. 

George  Winter. 

We  drove  him  too  far,  Fred,  We've  made  a  mess  of  it. 

Etchingham. 
You  have,  a  confounded  mess. 

[He  gets  u])  and  hobbles  across  the  room  towards 
the  door.    George  Winter  intercepts  him. 

George  Winter. 
Where  are  you  going  ? 

Etchingham. 

[Insolently.^  Get    out    of    my    way,   you    damned 
bounder. 

[George  Winter  looks  at  him  for  a  moment 
and  steps  aside. 

u. 


114  T^iE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Wixter. 

\]Vith   a   grim   smilei]  It  is   plain  that  you  don't 
think  there's  anything  more  to  be  got  out  of  me. 

Etchingham. 

\]Vith  a  wave  of  the  hand.]  I  wish  you  a  pleasant 
time  at  Portland,  gentlemen. 

George  Winter. 
Ring  the  bell,  Fred. 

[Etchingiiam  stops  as  he  hears  the  order  and 
turns  round. 

Bennett. 

That'll  bring  those  men  up.     Don't  you  remember 
you  told  .  .  . 

George  AVinter. 
[^Interrupting.]  Ring  the  bell,  damn  you  ! 

[Bennett,  without  a  ivord,  presses  the  button. 
Etchingham  comes  hack  into  the  middle  of 
the  room. 

Etchingham. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

George  Winter. 

Hulloa,    I   thought   you   were    routing   out    your 
pistols  by  now. 

Etchingham. 
You're  not  going  to  see  those  fellows  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  115 

Bennett. 
They'll  insist  on  seeing  Mrs.  Winter. 

George  Winter. 
Then  I  shall  send  for  her. 


Etchingham. 

Oh,  you  needn't  think  she'll  back  you  up  in  your 
confounded  lies. 

George  Winter. 

[Blandly.]  Anyhow,  I  dare  say  you'd  like  to  wait 
and  see. 

Etchingham. 

[Suspiciously/.]  Have  you  got  something  up  your 
sleeve  ? 

George  Winter. 

My  dear  fellow,  our  sex  would  be  at  an  impossible 
disadvantage  in  its  dealings  with  the  other,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  most  obstinate  of  all  their  passions.  .  .  . 
Self-sacrifice. 

Etchingham. 
You're  counting  on  that  ? 

George  Winter. 

You've  given  Kate  such  a  training  in  it  that  I  can't 
help  thinking  it  has  become  a  h  ibit. 


Il6  THE  TENTH  MAN 

EtCHINGHAM. 

I  ^voll't  say  a  word  to  move  her. 

[lie flings  himself  heavihj  into  a  chair.  Already 
half  his  heroic  resolutions  have  evaporated. 
George  AVinter  watches  him  with  cynical 
aimcsement. 

George  Winter. 

Like  all  great  men  I  leave  as  little  as  possible  to 
chance. 

Etchingham. 

[With  a  start.]  Perigal  ? 

George  Winter. 

That's  it. 

Bennett. 

D'you  think  there's  a  chance,  Governor  ? 

George  Winter. 

We  must  risk  it.     It's  the  last  fling. 

[The  Butler  ushers  in  Mr.  Swalecliffe, 
James  Ford  and  Colonel  Boyce.  Mr. 
Swalecliffe  is  a  Nonconforimst  Minister, 
clean  shaven,  with  a  salloic  grave  face. 
James  Ford  is  a  wealthy  man,  a  pillar  oj 
the  Noncouformist  church  in  Middlepool 
and  a  local  politiciaii  of  ionpoj'tance  ;  he  is 
a  large  man,  stout,  oldish,  badly  dressed, 
with  a  slight  North  Country  accent ;  he 
gives  the  imjwession  of  shrewdness,  but  also 


THE  TENTH  MAN  1 17 

of  coiivplete  honesty  and  straightforiuard- 
ness.  CoLOXEL  Boyce,  ivho  is  George 
Winter  s  acjent^  is  spare  and  tall,  bronzed, 
vnth  grey  hair  and  a  grey  loaxed  moustache  ; 
alert,  neatly  dressed  and  dajyper.  He  is  the 
kind  of  retired  military  man  icho  may  be 
seen  by  the  score  in  Bath,  Tunbridge  Wells 
or  Cheltenham. 

Thompson. 
Mr.  Swalecliffe,  Mr.  James  Ford,  Colonel  Boyce. 

[Exit, 
George  Winter. 

How  d'yoii  do  ?    I'm  delighted  to  see  you  !    I  hope 
I  haven't  kept  you  waiting? 

James  Ford. 

Not  a  bit !     It's  of  no  consequence. 

George  Winter. 

Let  me  introduce  you  to  my  father-in-law.     Mr, 
Swalecliffe — Lord  Francis  Etchingham. 

[Mr.  Swalecliffe   bows   stiffly.     He  is   not 
going  to  open  his  mouth  if  h-i  can  help  it. 

George  Winter. 
Mr.  James  Ford. 

James  Ford. 

Pleased  to  meet  you,  Lord  Francis. 


ii8  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etchingham. 
It's  very  kind  of  you  to  say  so. 

George  Winter. 

When  I  suggested  to  Lord  Francis  that  it  would  be 
more  convenient  for  you  to  come  here,  he  put  his 
house  at  my  disposal.  My  wife  is  staying  here,  you 
know.  We're  doing  up  the  house  in  Portman  Square, 
atid  she  can't  stand  the  smell  of  paint. 

Boyce. 

[^Anxious  to  make  things  easy^  Naturally.  I  don't 
like  it  myself. 

George  Winter. 

How  is  your  wife,  Mr,  Swalecliffe  ?     Well,  I  trust. 

Swalecliffe. 
Thank  you. 

George  Winter. 
And  the  children  ? 

Swalecliffe. 

Yes,  thank  you. 

George  Winter. 

Now  sit  down  and  make  yourselves  comfortable, 
won't  you  ?     Have  you  had  tea  ? 

James  Ford. 
Yes,  thank  you. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  119 

BOYCE. 

[Rather  pompously.^     I  took  them  into  my  club. 

CIeorge  AVinter. 

Will  you  have  a  drink?  I  can  recommend  my 
father-in-law's  whisky.  I  know  it's  no  good  offering 
you  one,  Mr.  Swalecliffe  ? 

James  Ford. 
Boyce  and  I  had  a  little  drop  of  Scotch  to  our  tea. 

George  Wixter. 
Then  we'll  get  to  business  at  once,  shall  we  ? 

Swalecliffe. 

[Clearing  his  throat.]^  I  should  like  to  say,  before 
we  go  any  further,  that  it  is  with  the  greatest  regret 
that  Mr.  Ford  and  I  have  come  up  to  London  on 
such  an  errand. 

James  Ford. 

There's  been  a  lot  of  gossip  in  Middlepool,  and, 
well,  we  thought  the  shortest  way  to  settle  it 
was  .  .  . 

Boyce. 

I  personally  don't  think  this  is  a  matter  of  which 
the  committee  ought  to  take  any  notice.  A  man's 
private  life  is  his  private  life,  and  .  .  . 

James  Ford. 
That's  all  very  well,  Colonel.  Winter's  an  old  friend 


120  THE  TENTH  MAN 

of  mine.  We've  had  business  dealings  together  for 
the  past  twenty  years.  But  .  .  .  well,  it's  a  question 
of  winning  the  election  or  losing  it.  There's  never 
l)een  much  in  it  one  way  or  another,  and  fifty  votes 
more  or  less  will  make  all  the  difference. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  want  to  tell  you  frankly,  Mr.  Winter,  that  I 
should  feel  it  my  duty  to  vote  against  you,  if  there 
were  any  truth  in  the  reports  that  have  been  going 
about.  And  I  should  feel  it  my  duty  to  advise  my 
congregation  to  follow  my  example. 

George  Winter. 

That's  clear  enough  in  all  conscience.  Gentlemen, 
the  best  answer  I  can  make  to  you  is  that  I  receive 
you  in  my  father-in-law's  house.  My  wife  is  upstairs 
in  her  mother's  boudoir.  I  give  you  my  word  of 
honour  that  there  is  not  the  smallest  shadow  of  truth 
in  any  single  syllable  that  you  have  heard.  I  have 
issued  a  writ  for  libel  ao'ainst  the  Herald,  and  .  .  . 

BOYCE. 

Surely  that  ought  to  satisfy  anyone. 

James  Ford. 
Well,  it  doesn't  satisfy  me. 

George  Winter. 

Perhaps  you  would  like  my  father-in-law  to  tell 
you  that  every  word  I  say  is  scrupulously  true  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN         ^  121 

SWALECLIFFE. 

We   don't  doubt  your   word,  Mr.  Winter,  hut   we 
came  to  London  with  a  particular  object. 

BOYCE. 

I  must  say  I  thought  from  the  beginning  it  was 
open  to  the  gravest  question. 

James  Ford. 

The   committee    discussed    it   at    length,    and  the 
majority  agreed  that  .   .   . 

George  Winter. 

[Rising.'\    Of  course,   of  course,  Etchingham,  will 
you  give  these  gentlemen  the  assurance  ? 

Etchingham. 

\After  a  moment's  hesitati07i.]  I   think  the  whole 
thing's  damned  impertinent. 

BOYCE. 

That's  exactly  what  I  said. 

James  Ford. 
[QuietlT/.]  You're  only  wasting  time,  Winter. 

Swalecliffe. 

We   made   up   our    minds  that   we  must  have  a 
certain  assurance   from    the  lips  of    Mrs.    Winter. 


122  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Then  we  can  go  back  to  Middlepool  with  comfortable 
minds. 

George  AVintek. 

[7Vf/i7i(j  bluster.]  D'you  mean  to  say  you  wish  to 
cross-examine  my  wife  i 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  merely  wish  her  to  answer  the  questions  that 
were  put  to  you  in  Colonel  Boyce's  letter  on  behalf 
of  the  committee. 

George  Winter. 

[Preie7idi7ig  tojly  into  a  violent  ixmsion?^  No  decent 
woman  would  stand  it.  I  refuse  to  ask  my  wdfe  to 
expose  herself  to  such  a  degradation. 

James  Ford. 

That  means  that  you  don't  represent  Middlepool  in 
the  next,  Parliament,  George  Winter. 

George  Winter. 

I'd  sooner  lose  my  seat  than  expose  a  defenceless 
woman  to  such  humiliation.  You  can  go  and  tell 
that  to  your  committee  and  be  damned  to  you  ! 

Swalecliffe. 

But  we  came  up  from  Middlepool  on  the  under- 
standing that  we  were  to  see  your  wife,  Mr.  Winter. 

George  Winter. 
My  wife  is  in  very  delicate  health. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  123 

James  Ford. 

AVe  shan't  keep  her  more  than  five  minutes. 
You'd  be  wise  to  let  common  sense  get  the  better  of 
your  pretty  sentiments. 

\There  is  a  slight  pause.  George  Winter 
realizes  that  he  cannot  hluf  them  out  of 
their  determination :  he  goes  over  silently 
and  7nngs  the  hell. 

George  Winter. 
Very  well. 

James  Ford. 
I  think  it's  the  best  thing,  you  know. 

George  Winter. 

But  if  my  wife  refuses  to  answer  I  warn  you  that 
I  shall  not  say  a  word  to  persuade  her.  I  think  the 
whole  thing's  a  perfect  scandal. 

The  Butler  entet^s. 

George  Winter. 

Tell  Mrs.  Winter  that  Lord  Francis  and  I  would 
be  very  much  obliged  if  she'd  come  to  the  drawing- 
room  for  one  moment. 

Thompson. 
Very  good,  sir.  [Exit. 

BOYCE. 

I  wish  you  to  know  that  I  have  expressed  myself 
very  strongly  all  through  against  this  proceeding. 


124  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford. 

Sliut  up,  Boyce.  When  we  want  your  opinion 
we'll  ask  for  it. 

\They  luait  in  silence.    In  a  moment  Catherine 
comes  in. 

George  Winter. 

These  are  the  gentlemen  of  whom  I  spoke  to  you. 
Gentlemen,  here  is  my  wife. 

James  Ford. 

[Cordially.']  How  d'you  do,  Mrs.  Winter  ?  Pleased 
to  see  you. 

Catherine. 
[With  a  smile.]  How  d'you  do? 

James  Ford. 

We've  not  had  the  pleasure  of  welcoming  you  in 
Middlepool  for  some  time. 

Catherine. 
I've  not  been  very  well  lately. 

Swalecliffe. 

[To  George  Winter.]  Will  you  put  the  question 
to  Mrs.  Winter  that  we  set  in  our  letter  to  you  of 
the  day  before  yesterday  ? 

George  Winter. 

No,  sir.  If  you're  not  ashamed  to  ask  the  question 
you  may  ask  it  yourself, 


THE  TENTH  MAN  125 

ft 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  am  a  stninger  to  Mrs.  Winter.  The  matter 
requires  some  explanation. 

James  Ford. 

It's  no  use  making  any  bones  about  it,  SwaleclifFe. 
Mrs.  Winter,  I'm  sorry  to  put  you  in  tliis  position, 
but  there  it  is,  and  it  can't  be  helped.  There  are 
busybodies  everywhere,  and  Middlepool  has  its  fair 
share  of  them.  There's  been  a  lot  of  gossip  about 
you  and  your  good  man,  and  if  we  don't  look  out  it'll 
lose  him  the  election. 

Catherine. 

What  do  you  want  me  to  say  to  you  ? 

James  Ford. 

Well,  we  want  to  be  able  to  go  back  to  Middlepool 
and  tell  them  we've  had  it  from  your  own  lips  that 
there's  no  truth  in  these  reports. 

[There  is  a  2jause.  Etchingham  can  hardly 
hear  his  anxieti/.  Bennett  is  trying  to 
hide  his  agitation.  George  Winter  looks 
at  her  ivith  a  smile.  Catherine  arid  James 
Ford  confront  one  another,  and  she  looks 
at  him  steadily. 

Catherine. 

That  you  may  do. 

[Etchingham   cnnnot  prevent  a  little  gasp  of 
relief,  hut  George  Winter  makes  no  sign. 


126  THE  TENTH  MAN 

SWALECLIFFE. 

You  have  no  intention  of  divorcing  your  husband  ? 

Catherine. 
None  whatever. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

You've  never  had  any  intention  ? 

George  Winter, 

[Impatiently.^  Good  lord,  isn't  that  enough  for 
you  ? 

James  Ford. 

[Kindly.']  Yes,  yes,  we  won't  bother  you  any 
more.  Thank  you,  very  much  !  And  I'm  glad  that 
you've  put  our  minds  at  rest.  George  Winter,  shake 
hands. 

George  Winter. 

I'll  shake  hands  with  you,  but  I  can't  help  saying 
that  I  could  have  expected  more  charity,  more  confi- 
dence in  me  from  men  who  make  a  practice  of  belief 
in  the  Christian  Church. 

James  Ford. 
[Unmoved  by  the  rebuke.]  That's  all  right. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  can  understand  your  vexation,  Mr.  Winter.  But 
we  were  in  a  very  difficult  position. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  127 

ft 

James  Ford. 

Anyhow,  we  must  get  along,  and  if  we  look  sharp 
we'll  catch  the  5.40  back  to  Middlepool.  Good 
afternoon  to  yon,  Mrs,  Winter.  Good  afternoon, 
gentlemen. 

George  "Winter. 

Mr.  Bennett  will  show  you  out.  Good-bye.  Good- 
bye, Boyce.  I  shall  be  up  at  Middlepool  in  a  day  or 
two  .  .  .  \As  they  are  going  out.]  Oh,  by  the  way, 
Boyce,  a  little  bit  of  information  for  you — Robert 
Colby's  going  to  the  War  Office  in  the  New  Cabinet. 


end  of  the  second  act. 


THE  THIRD  ACT 

• 
The  scene  is  a  spacious  sitting-room  in  the  Palace  Hotel 
at  Middlepool.  It  is  sumptuously  furnished  vnth 
the  lack  of  taste  peculiar  to  such  apartments. 
Everything  is  large  and  rich  and  rather  stiff.  It 
is  obvious  that  the  decorations  have  been  carried  out 
on  contract  hy  a  first-rate  firm.  They  are  calculated 
to  give  the  business  man  ivho  engages  the  room  the 
impression  that  he  is  getting  his  money  s  icorth. 

On  the  left  is  a  large  French  loindow^  ojyening  to  the 
floor  and  looking  on  the  square  in  front  of  the 
hotel.  At  the  back  is  a  door  leading  into  George 
Winter's  bedroom.  On  the  right  are  tiro  doors  ; 
one  leads  i7iio  the  jmssage,  and  the  other  is  that  of 
Catherine's  room.  There  is  a  telephone  on  the 
table. 

It  is  some  iveeks  later,  between  ten  and  eleven  on  the 
m.orning  of  the  election. 

Lord  Francis  Etchingham,  Fred  Bennett,  James 
Ford,  Colonel  Boyce,  and  Mr.  Swalecliffe, 
Mr.  Swalecliffe  is  standing  at  the  window. 

When  the  curtain  rises  there  is  an  excited  buzz  of  con- 
versation.     Boyce  is  at  the  telephone. 
128 


THE  TENTH  MAN  129 

BOYCE. 

[^Speaking  into  the  receive?'.]    Yes,  Colonel  Boyce. 
Be  sure  you  don't  make  a  mistake. 

SWALECLIFFE.  • 

I  can't  imagine  what's  become  of  him.     One  would 
have  thought  .   .  , 

Etchingham. 

[To  Colonel  Boyce.]  If  he's  not  there,  you'd  better 
try  somewhere  else. 

James  Ford. 

[Shouting.]  For  goodness'  sake  let  me  hear  myself 
speak. 

[These  speeches  are  said  simultaneously,  and 
immediately  afterwards  is  heard  the  dull 
roar  of  a  train  passing  through  the  station, 
and  a  long,  shrill  whistle.  Etchingham 
starts  7iervously. 

Etchingham. 
Oh,  confound  those  trains. 

James  Ford. 

[Impatiently.]    I   should   have   thought  you'd  got 
used  to  them  by  now. 

Etchingham. 

Good  Lord,  I've  not  slept  for  a  week.     They  go  on 
all  night. 

I 


130  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Bennett. 

They  worried  me  a  bit  last  night.  And  when  I 
did  get  to  sleep  I  heard  them  whistling  away  through 
my  dreams. 

BOTCE. 

They  don't  seem  to  trouble  Winter. 

Etchingham. 

If  they  did  I  suppose  he  wouldn't  come  to  this 
hotel, 

James  Ford. 

[]\^oddmg  in  the  direction  of  George  Winter's 
room.]  He  sleeps  next  door,  doesn't  he  ? 

BOYCE, 

He  told  me  he  slept  like  a  top  last  night. 

Bennett, 

[Swiultaneously,]  He  looked  as  fresh  as  paint  this 
morning. 

Etchingham. 
And  his  room's  practically  on  the  line. 

James  Ford. 


Oh,  nonsense. 


Etchingham. 


Yes,  it  is.  You  just  walk  down  a  flight  of  steps 
into  the  garden,  and  there  you  are  within  twenty 
feet  of  the  line. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  131 

James  Ford. 

Worst  place  in  Middlepool  for  a  hotel.  I  told  them 
so  when  they  came  to  me  about  it.  Wanted  me  to 
put  money  in  it.     Not  me. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

[^Breaking  in  before  James  Ford  has  finished.^ 
Surely  Mr.  Winter  ought  to  be  here  by  now. 

James  Ford. 

You  won't  make  him  come  any  quicker  by  looking 
out  of  the  window. 

BOYCE. 

Every  moment's  valuable.  Something  ought  to  be 
done  at  once. 

Etchingham. 

[^Interrupting.^    Don't    you    know    where    he    is, 

Colonel  ? 

BOYCE. 

He  was  booked  to  speak  to  the  men  at  Parker  and 
Gibbons  at  10.30.  But  you  know  what  he  is.  Half 
a  dozen  places  at  once.  He's  about  the  most  difficult 
person  to  catch  I  know. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Have  you  sent  down  to  Parker  and  Gibbons  ? 

BOYCE. 

Yes,  of  course  I  have ;  I've  sent  a  dozen  fellows 
after  him  to  tell  him  to  come  to  the  hotel  at  once. 


132  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Bennett. 

[Talking  through.^  You've  been  careful  ?  You've 
not  .  .  .? 

BOYCE. 

You  don't  think  I'm  a  beginner  at  tiiis  game,  do 
you  ? 

Bennett. 

Well,  I  didn't  know  how  you'd  made  him  under- 
stand what  had  happened. 

James  Ford. 

He's  not  made  him  understand.  When  "Winter's 
told  he's  expected  at  the  Palace  at  once  he'll  guess 
something's  in  the  wind. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

You're  sure  he  won't  go  to  the  Committee  Rooms  ? 

BOYCE. 

If  he  does  he'll  be  sent  on.  I  thought  it  would 
cause  a  lot  of  gossip  if  we  had  a  meeting  there. 
That's  why  I  suggested  the  hotel. 

Etchingham. 

[^Tntero'uj^fting .^^  I  wash  to  goodness  you  wouldn't 
look  so  depressed,  Mr,  Swaleclifie. 

•SWALECLIFFE, 

You're  a  business  man,  Mr.  Ford.  D'3'ou  think 
there's  any  truth  in  this  article  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  133 

James  Ford. 

You'd  better  ask  Lord  Francis.  He's  chairman  of 
the  new  company;  I'm  only  an  investor. 

Bennett. 

Of  course  there's  nothing  in  it.  The  whole  thing's 
a  malicious  libel. 

James  Ford. 

Well,  we'll  hear  what  Winter's  got  to  say  about  it. 

Etchingham. 
[Simultaneously.^  My  Lord,  I  wish  he'd  come. 

Bennett. 

[2^0  James  Ford,]  You  don't  mean  to  say  you  think 
there's  anything  in  it  ? 

James  Ford. 

I've  applied  for  ten  thousand  shares.  You  don't 
suppose  I  like  it  when  an  article  comes  out  in  a 
financial  paper  on  the  day  of  issue  that  the  mine's 
practically  w^orked  out,  a.nd  Winter's  expert  has 
reported  that  the  ore's  not  worth  the  cost  of  crushing, 

BOYCE. 

Everybody  wlio's  got  a  penny  to  spare  in  Middle- 
pool  has  applied  for  shares. 

James  Ford. 

George  Winter  told  me  it  was  the  biggest  thing  he'd 
ever  had. 


134  T^i^  TENTH  MAN 

Bennett. 

He's  never  let  you  down  before.  Why  should  he 
let  you  down  now  ? 

James  Ford. 

I  don't  say  he's  let  me  down.  But  he  told  me  to 
put  my  shirt  on  it,  and  ...  I  don't  want  ten  thousand 
worthless  shares. 

BOYCE. 

The  damnable  thing  is  that  it  should  happen  on  the 
day  of  the  election. 

Etchingham. 

It  would  be  monstrous  if  people  didn't  vote  for  him 
because  of  an  article  in  a  London  newspaper. 

BoYCE. 

You  know  what  people  are.  They  lose  their  heads. 
The  seat  has  always  been  won  and  lost  on  the  wobblers. 

James  Ford. 
Oh,  the  first  thing  is  to  win  the  seat. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Well,  we  shan't  do  that  unless  Mr.  Winter  comes 
at  once  and  we  make  up  our  minds  what  to  do. 

Etchingham. 

Ring  up  the  Committee  Rooms,  Boyce,  and  ask  if 
anything's  been  heard  of  him. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  135 

BOYCB. 

All  right.     I'll  do  that. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  was  never  so  taken  aback  as  when  Boyce  showed 
me  the  telephone  message  from  London. 

Etchingham. 
When  do  the  London  papers  get  here,  Mr.  Ford  ? 

James  Ford. 
They  ought  to  be  here  by  half-past  ten. 

Boyce. 

\Speaking  into  the   receiver,']  Put   me  on  78,  will 
you  ? 

Etchingham. 

[Simultaneously.]  Why  the  devil  don't  they  bring 
them  in  ? 

Bennett. 

Don't  worry.  I've  told  a  waiter  to  bring  them  as 
soon  as  they  arrive. 

Boyce. 

\At  the  telephone.]  I  say,  is  that  you,  Masters?  Has 
Mr.  Winter  been  there  ?  Well,  send  Rogers.  Here. 
No,  here,  confound  you !  The  Palace.  [^Putting 
down  the  receiver.]  No,  nothing's  been  seen  of  him 
since  early  this  morning. 


136  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etchingham. 

I  wonder  what  the  other  side  are  going  to  do  when 
they  hear  this. 

James  Ford. 

Oh,  don't  you  be  afraid.     They  heard  about  the 
attack  as  soon  as  ever  we  did. 

Bennett. 

You  ought  to  have  held  the  line  and  prevented 
them  from  getting  on  to  London. 

BOYCE. 

Good  God,  one  can't  think  of  everything  at  once. 

Etchingham. 

It  seems  to  me  the  whole  thing  has  been  about  as 
disgracefully  mismanaged  as  it  could  be. 

BoYCE. 

If  you'd  ever  tried  to  run  an  election  you'd  know  it 
wasn't  so  easy  as  all  that. 

Etchingham. 
I'm  not  an  election  agent.     It's  not  my  business. 

James  Ford. 

Come,   come,   gentlemen,  it's  no  good  quarrelling 
ab)ut  it. 

\^l'hesG  three  speeches  are  spoken  at  once. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  137 

SWALECLIFFE. 

How  is  the  polling  going  on  ? 

BOYCE. 

Oh,  I  think  we  shall  have  the  heaviest  poll  we've 
ever  had. 

James  Ford. 

Of  course  there'll  be  some  slackening  off  just  now. 
A  lot  of  working  men  voted  when  the  polling  stations 
opened. 

BOYCE. 

There'll  be  twice  as  many  at  the  dinner-hour. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

You  don't  know  what  the  Tories  are  doing,  Colonel  ? 

BoYCE. 

I  should  think  I  did  know.  They're  going  to  set 
up  the  article  as  soon  as  it  comes  in. 

Etchingham. 
The  whole  article  ? 

BOYCE. 

The  whole  confounded  thing. 

James  Ford. 

And  placard  the  streets  with  it.  They've  made 
arrangements  to  print  off  a  thousand,  and  they've  got 
their  bill  stickers  all  ready  and  waiting. 


138  THE  TENTH  MAN 

E'rCHINGnAM. 

It's  infamous. 

James  Ford. 

Nonsense !  It's  business.  We'd  have  done  the 
same  if  we'd  had  the  luck  to  get  such  a  stick  as  this 
to  beat  Morrison  with  the  very  morning  of  the  election. 

SWALECLTFFE. 

The  comfort  is,  they  don't  know  Morrison  and  they 
do  know  Winter. 

James  Ford. 

That's  the  danger,  too.  They  may  know  him  too 
well. 

Etchingham. 

I  don't  know  what  the  devil  you  mean  by  that. 
You  seem  to  forget  that  you're  speaking  of  my  son- 
in-law. 

James  Ford. 

Oh,  we're  not  here  to  pay  one  another  compliments. 

Bennett. 

If  you'll  wait  a  minute  or  two  he'll  be  here  himself 
and  you  can  say  to  him  anything  you  want  to. 

BOYCE. 

What  I  can't  make  out  is  why  he  chose  this  par- 
ticular day  to  bring  out  his  company. 

Bennett. 

He  didn't  think  the  election  would  take  place  just 
yet. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  139 

James  Ford. 

Every  one's  beeu  talking  of  a  general  election  for  the 
last  two  months. 

Bennett. 

You  know  it  was  sprung  upon  us  at  the  end. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Couldn't  he  have  kept  the  issue  back  ? 

Etchingham. 
He'd  got  everything  fixed  up  by  then. 

James  Ford. 

[jSpeakioig  through.^  Of  course  he  could.  It  was 
only  his  obstinacy.  I  told  him  it  was  a  bad  time  to 
give  an  American  issue  to  the  public. 

Etchingham. 

Well,  you  weren't  obliged  to  apply  for  shares,  were 
you? 

James  Ford. 

Tell  me  something  I  don't  know  next,  will  you  ? 

Etchingham. 

I  can  tell  you  there's  no  harm  in  keeping  a  civil 
tongue  in  your  head. 

James  Ford. 

Thank  you,  I  don't  want  lessons  in  manners  from 
you. 


I40  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Bennett. 

You  won't  do  yourselves  much  good  by  losing  your 
tempers. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Why  doesn't  Mr.  Winter  come  ? 

BOYCE. 

I  dare  say  he's  sent  his  car  to  take  some  one  to  the 
poll  and  he's  had  to  walk. 

Etchingham. 

It  seems  to  me  that  you've  bungled  everything  you 
could. 

BOYCE. 

I  don't  know  why  the  devil  you  should  blame  me, 
[-i  icaiter  comes  in  ivith  news2)a2Jers  on  a  tray. 

Bennett. 
Here  they  are  at  last. 

\They  crowd  round  the  waiter  and.   tal:e   the 
papers  from  him.     The  ivaiter  goes  out. 

Etchingham. 
Thank  God,  cow  we  shall  know  the  worst, 

BOYCE. 

The  Financial  News, 

James  Ford. 
No,  that's  got  nothing. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  141 

Bennett. 
Here  it  is.     The  Financial  Standard, 

James  Ford. 
Give  it  me. 

[ZTe  takes  the  j^aper  from  Bennett  and  opens  it. 
Etchingham  watches  him  anxiously, 

Swalecliffe. 

I  wish  to  goodness  I'd  never  thought  of  stocks  and 
shares.  I  knew  it  was  wrong.  Oh,  what  a  punish- 
ment ! 

James  Ford. 

[^Impatiently. ^^  We  can't  all  read  the  paper  at  once. 

Bennett. 
Spread  it  out  on  the  table.     That's  the  best  way. 

[Bennett  and  Ford  rapidily  run    their  eyes 
down  the  article. 

Bennett. 

Steep,  isn't  it  ? 

James  Ford. 
If  the  Tories  print  this  it'll  about  bust  us. 

Etchingham. 

The  whole  thing's  a  pack  of  lies.  It's  scandalous 
that  such  methods  should  be  used  to  influence  an 
election. 


142  ■    THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  FoRDr 
[To  SwALECLiFFE.]  D'you  want  to  read  it? 

SWALECLIFFE. 

What  does  it  say  ? 

Bennett. 
Merely  what  they  phoned  down  from  London. 

James  Ford. 

But  it  puts  it  about  as  hot  as  I've  ever  seen  a 
financial  article. 

Etchingham. 

D'you  think  it'll  interfere  with  the  issue  ? 

James  Ford. 
It'll  bust  it. 

Etchingham. 

Can't  something  be  done  to  find  Winter  ? 

BOYCE. 

All  we  can  do  is  to  wait. 

Etchingham. 

Hang  it  all,  we  can't  go  on  waiting,  and  waiting, 
and  waiting.  Isn't  there  one  of  you  who  can  do 
something  ? 

James  Ford. 
Keep  your  head,  man,  that's  about  the  best  thing 
you  can  do. 

[Edward  O'Donnell  hurries  in. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  143 

O'DONNELL. 

It's  all  right.     I've  got  him. 

Etchingham. 
Thank  God. 

O'DONNELL. 

I  told  him  to  hurry  up.     He  was   just  going    to 
speak  to  some  fellows  in  a  factory. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

He's  coming  ? 

O'DoNNELL. 

Yes,  rather.     He  said  he'd  be  here  in  a  jift'y. 

James  Ford. 
Did  he  want  to  know  what  it  was  about  ? 

O'DONNELL. 

There  was  no  time  for  him  to  ask.     And  he  was 
talking  to  a  whole  crowd  when  I  found  him. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

He  knows  it's  important  ? 

Bennett. 

Don't  be  afraid  about  that.     If  he  says  he'll  come  at 
once,  he'll  come. 

BOYCE. 

Here  he  is* 


144  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etchinguam. 
[At  the  same  ime.]  At  last. 

[George  Winter  comes  in  and  surveys  them  for 
a  moment.     He  smiles  sardonically. 

George  Winter. 
Quite  a  party. 

Etchingham. 

We  thought  you  were  never  coming. 

George  Winter. 
What-s  the  trouble  ? 

James  Ford. 
[Pointing  to  the  imper.^  That's  the  trouble. 

Bennett. 

The  Financial  Standard  has  got  an  attack  on  the 
Campo  del  Oro. 

George  Winter. 

[Calmly.']  Is  that  all  ? 

James  Ford. 
It's  a  good  deal. 

George  Winter. 

The  Lewishams  have  got  The  Fina^icial  Standard 
in  their  pockets. 

James  Ford. 
You  read  it. 


THE  TENTH  MAN         .  145 

SWALECLIFFE. 

They  say  there's  no  gold  in  the  mine. 

George  Winter. 

What  do  they  know  about  it  ?  They've  not  been 
there  and  my  expert  has. 

James  Ford. 

That's  just  it.  They  say  you're  floating  it  on  the 
report  the  owners  gave  you  when  you  bought  it,  and 
you're  holding  back  Macdonald's. 

George  Winter. 

[Lookbig  ovei'  the  article.^  It's  extraordinaiy  what  a 
lot  the  papers  know.  [2%e  telephone  rings ^  What  is 
it  ?  \^Ile  listens  for  a  moment.^  London  call.  You'd 
better  go  and  speak  to  them,  Fred.  ^Down  the  7'eceiver.] 
No,  don't  connect  with  me.  Mr.  Bennett  will  come 
along.  [Bennett  goes  out.]  It's  one  of  my  brokers. 
Now  let's  go  on.  As  abuse  I  don't  really  think  very 
much  of  it.  I  could  have  said  much  unpleasanter 
things  about  myself. 

Swalecliffe. 
You  seem  to  take  it  very  calmly. 

George  AVinter. 

I've  not  been  fighting  the  Lewishams  for  ten  years 
without  getting  some  pretty  hard  words  broken  on 
my  back. 


146  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford. 

D'you  see  tliut  bit  about  where  the  money  came 
from  ? 

ExcniNGHAM. 
I  didn't  see  that. 

George  Winter. 

I'll  read  it  you,  shall  I  ?  [Beading.]  "  It  is  stated 
that  Mr.  Winter  paid  eighty  thousand  pounds  for  this 
precious  mine.  It  would  perhaps  be  interesting  to 
inquire  how  he  was  able  to  raise  such  a  sum  at  a 
time  not  only  of  general  stringency,  but  of  peculiar 
difficulty  in  the  Central  American  market.  Perhaps 
Ml'.  Winter,  like  King  Midas,  is  able  to  turn  inlo 
gold  everything  he  touches  and  he  may  have  been 
able  to  change  his  office  furniture  into  precious  met.'il. 
Perhaps  not."  Childish,  isn't  it  ?  Do  they  think  I'm 
going  to  let  out  my  little  trade  secrets  to  please 
them  ? 

James  Ford. 
But  where  did  you  get  the  money  ? 

[Etchixgham  gives  a  slight  start,  hut  George 
Winter  remains  i:>erjectly  cool, 

George  Winter. 

My  dear  fellow,  you  don't  suppose  I  stole  it,  do 
you?  That's  where  the  born  financier  comes  in.  He 
makes  money  as  a  conjurer  makes  a  white  rabbit 
appear  out  of  a  silk  handkerchief. 


THE  TENTH  MAN       .  147 

James  Ford. 

[Drill/.]  A  very  satisfactory  explanation. 

[For  an  instant,  hardly  perceptible  to  the 
others,  the  eyes  of  George  Winter  and 
James  Ford  meet. 

George  Winter. 
But  that's  hardly  the  point,  is  it  ? 

[During  the  rest  of  the  scene  James  Ford  is 
thinking  the  matter  over.  His  eyes  rest  on 
George  Winter  as  if  he  ivere  trying  to 
guess  something. 

Boyce. 
Something  must  be  done  at  once. 

George  Winter. 
Have  the  Tories  got  hold  of  it  ? 

Boyce. 
They're  printing  the  article  on  posters. 

George  Winter. 
Nuisance,  isn't  it  ? 

[He  pauses  to  reflect  for  a  'tnoment.  Mr. 
SwALECLiFFE  breaks  in  upon  his  thoughts. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Is   there   any   truth    at   all   in   that   article,  Mr. 
Winter  ? 


148  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 
Kot  a  word, 

SWALECLIFFE, 

It  puts  me  in  a  very  awkward  position, 

George  Winter. 
What's  the  matter  with  you  ? 

SwALECLIFFE. 

I  thought  the  shares  would  go  to  a  premium  before 
they  were  issued. 

George  Winter. 

\Smiling.']  Like  the  San  Jose  tramways,  eh  ? 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Mr.  Ford  says  this  will^bust  the  issue. 

George  Winter. 

Nice  of   him.  .  .  .  Been  having  a  little   gamble, 
have  you  ? 

Swalegliffe. 

If  it  was  a  certainty  I  didn't  see  there  could  be  any 
harm  in  it. 

George  Winter. 

[With  a  chuckle.]  Like  playing  with  loaded  dice? 
How  many  shares  have  you  applied  for  ? 

Swalegliffe, 
Five  hundred. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  149 

George  Winter. 
Sporting  of  you. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  didn't  mean  to  take  them  up,  you  understand.  I 
haven't  got  more  than  five  hundred  pounds  in  the 
world.  I  thought  they  were  bound  to  go  up  half  a 
crown  and  .  .  . 

George  Winter. 

Five  hundred  half  crowns  are  quite  worth  having, 
aren't  they  ? 

Swalecliffe. 

It's  been  a  lesson  to  me.  I'll  never  do  anything 
like  it  again.  I  shan't  have  the  chance.  If  I  have 
to  pay  for  the  shares  .  .  . 

George  Winter. 
Get  my  cheque  book,  Teddie. 

O'Donnell. 

Yes,  sir. 

Swalecliffe. 

What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

George  Winter. 

I  don't  want  anyone  to  come  into  this  concern  who 
doesn't  believe  in  it.  Make  out  a  cheque  for  five 
hundred  pounds  to  Mr.  Swalecliffe. 

[O'Donnell  writes  out  a  cheque  dvrivg  the  next 
speeches. 


150  THE  TENTH  MAN 

SWALECLIFFE. 

That's  very  generous  of  you. 

George  Winter. 

Generous  ?     Nob  a  bit  of  it.     You  don't  think  I 
mind  having  five  hundred  shares  more,  do  you? 

SWALECLIFFE. 

D'you  think  they're  worth  it  ? 

George  Winter. 

They'll  be  worth  ten  pounds  a  piece  in  six  months, 
or  I'm  a  Dutchman. 

[O'DoNNELL  hands  him  the  cheque-book  and  a 
2)en.  George  Winter  s/^ws  his  name  and 
tears  out  a  cheque, 

James  Ford, 

[While  he  is  doing  this.]  That  looks  as  if  j^ou  had 
confidence  in  tlie  mine. 

George  Winter. 

[Handing  the  cheque  to  Swai.ecltffe.]  Here  you 
are.  [I'o  James  Ford.]  D'you  want  me  to  buy  your 
shares  off  you  ? 

James  Ford. 
[With  a  quiet  smile.]  Not  just  yet,  thank  you. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

But  what's  the  meaning  of  the  article,  then  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  151 

George  Winter. 

Why,  it's"  as  plain  as  a  pikestaft".  The  Lewishams 
were  willing  to  give  their  eyes  for  the  mine,  but  I 
was  too  much  for  them.  Now  they're  crabbing  it. 
That's  all. 

\^He  says  this  loith  great  assurance^  as  if  it 
thoroughly  explained  the  lohole  thing. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

But  then  .  .  , 

George  Winter. 

Pay  that  into  your  bank  and  hand  over  the  certifi- 
cate to  me  when  you  got  it. 

Swalecliffe. 
D'you  think  they'll  go  to  a  premium  ? 

George  Winter. 

I've  no  doubt  of  it.  I  dare  say  the  five  hundred 
half-crowns  will  be  just  as  useful  to  me  as  to  you. 
But  I  shall  hold  on.  I  want  a  bigger  profit  than 
that. 

Swalecliffe. 


But  if  they're  good  enough  for  you,  they're  good 
enough  for  me. 

George  Winter. 

No,  you've  taken  my  cheque  now.     It's  too  late. 

Swalecliffe. 

There's  your  cheque.     You  can  have  it  back  again. 
I'm  going  to  keep  the  shares. 


152  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  "Winter. 

[Good-hum O'uredli/.]  Wei],  I  don't  mind.  It  won't 
make  much  diflerence  to  me.  But  don't  sell  them, 
whatever  you  read  in  the  papers.  What's  a  profit  of 
half  a  crown  ?  Wait  till  you've  got  a  profit  of  five 
pounds,  and  then  you  can  think  of  selling  them. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

[  With  a  gasp.]  Five  pounds  ?  That  would  be  two 
thousand  five  hundred. 

George  Winter. 

[I'urning  to  Colonel  Boyce.]  Wait  a  minute.  Get 
on  to  Bishop  and  Jones. 

Boyce, 
The  printers  ? 

George  Winter. 

We  must  answer  this  article.  I've  just  been 
thinking  what  we'd  better  say. 

[He    sits    down    and    begins  to   lorite,   ivhile 
Colonel  Boyce  goes  to  the  telephone. 

Boyce. 
What's  their  number,  d'you  know  ? 

James  Ford. 
703,  I  think. 

Boyce. 

Is  that  the  Exchange  ?  Give  me  703,  will  you  ? 
That  is  Bishop  and  Jones,  the  printers,  isn't  it  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  153 

George  Winter. 
I'm  going  to  make  it  hot  and  strong. 

O'DOXNELL. 

Isn't  there  anything  I  can  do  ? 

BOYCE. 

Are  you  Bishop  and  Jones  ? 

George  Winter. 

Tell  them  to  have  everything  ready  to  print  off"  a 
couple  of  thousand  posters  at  once.  You're  just 
coming  round  in  the  car. 

BoYCE. 

Hulloa  ?  Will  you  get  everything  ready  to  print 
off  a  couple  of  thousand  posters  at  once.  I'm  just 
coming  round.     Colonel  Boyce.     Yes.     That's  it. 

George  AVinter. 

[Speak{7ig  through  Colonel  Boyce's  instructions  to 
the  printers.']  What  d'you  think  of  this,  Ford  ? 

James  Ford. 

Let's  have  a  look. 

George  Winter. 

You  see  we've  got  the  advantage  that  they  have 
to  print  a  whole  article.  And  we  only  need  a  couple 
of  sentences. 


54  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford. 
Yes,  that  seems  all  right. 

ETCHIXCillAM. 

Couldn't  be  better. 

George  Winter. 
Make  a  copy  of  it,  Teddie.     Hurry  up. 

BOYCE. 

We  haven't  got  an}^  time  to  lose. 

George  Winter. 
The  car's  at  the  door. 

O'Doxxell. 
I  shan't  be  a  minute. 

George  Winter. 
You  can  get  hold  of  the  bill-posters,  can't  you  ? 

BoYCE. 

Oh,  yes,  there'll  be  no  bother  about  that, 

O'DONNELL. 

Here  you  are.     That's  done. 

George  Winter, 
Take  it,  Boyce.     And  hurry  up. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  I55 

BOYCE. 

[Taking  a  copy  of  the  rephj.]  Trust  me.     [He  goes  out. 
George  Winter, 

[Handing  O'Doxnell  a  second  copy.^  Teddie,  jump 
into  a  cab  and  go  round  to  the  newspaper  offices. 
And  tell  them  to  put  that  in  their  next  edition. 
Biggest  type  they've  got.  Then  goto  the  Committee 
Rooms  and  wait.    I'll  ring  you  up  there  or  come  round. 

O'DONNELL 

All  right. 

George  Winter. 

And  hustle,  or  I'll  sack  you. 

[He   goes   out,  and    as   he  does  so    Bennett 
comes  in, 

James  Ford. 

You're  taking  it  better  than  I  expected. 

George  Winter. 

What  do  you  expect  me  to  do ;  bang  my  head  on 
the  floor  and  tear  out  my  hair?  Can't  afford  it. 
Takes  me  all  my  time  to  keep  my  hair  on. 

Etchingham. 
Here's  Bennett. 

George  Winter. 
Well? 

Bennett. 

Nothing  much  has  happened.  They're  a  bit  excited 
in  the  Citv. 


1S6  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford. 
No  bad  drop  in  anything  ? 

Bennett. 

Nothing  to  speak  of. 

James  Ford. 
That's  a  relief. 

George  Winter. 

Everything  is  sound.  No  one  would  be  such  a  fool 
as  to  do  a  bear. 

Bennett. 

I'm  getting  on  to  MacLaren  and  Hewitt. 

George  Winter, 
That's  all  right.    I  wanted  them. 

James  Ford. 
Are  they  brokers  ? 

George  Winter. 

Yes.  Look  here,  Ford.  I'm  due  to  speak  in  the 
Cattle  Market  now.  I  wish  you'd  go  down  and  keep 
them  going  till  I  turn  up.  I  shall  only  be  ten 
minutes.    You've  got  the  line  all  right,  Fred  ? 

Bennett. 
Yes. 

James  Ford. 

Well,  I  don't  mind  if  I  do  that.  There's  nothing  I 
can  do  here,  is  there  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  157 

George  Winter. 

No,  leave  it  all  to  me.     Your   interests   are   my 
interests. 

James  Ford. 
I'll  make  tracks. 

George  Winter. 
That's  good.  [James  Ford  goes  out. 

Bennett. 

Governor,  I  thought  I'd  better  not  say  too  much 
while  he  was  there. 

George  Winter. 

I  saw  something  was  up.     That's  why  I  got  rid  of 
him. 

Bennett. 
Things  are  rotten. 

Etchingham. 
Good  Lord. 

Bennett. 

The  Lewishams  are  going  for  us. 

George  Winter. 
I  thought  they  would  as  soon  as  I  saw  the  article. 

Bennett. 
Who's  given  it  away,  d'you  think  ? 

George  Winter. 

How  do  I  know  ?     That  doesn't  matter.     The  only 
thing  is  to  face  it. 


i5«  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etcuingham. 
D'you  mean  our  shares  are  falling,  Mr.  Bennett? 

Bennett. 

There's  a  lot  of  selling. 

George  Winter. 

I  wish  we  could  corner  them.     I'd  like  to  give  the 
bears  a  lesson. 

Bennett. 
If  it  goes  on  there'll  be  a  panic. 

George  Winter. 

You've  told  the  brokers  to  do  all  they  can  to 
prevent  its  going  too  far  ? 

Bennett. 
I've  told  them  to  buy,  but  carefully. 

George  Winter. 

You  must  go  up  to  London,  Fred.  There's  no  one 
there  with  a  head  on  his  shoulders. 

Bennett. 

I  thought  that  was  the  best  thing  myself.  I've 
looked  out  the  trains.  I  can  just  catch  the  express. 
I  shall  be  there  soon  after  one. 

George  Winter. 
Then  bolt  at  once.     I  give  you  a  free  hand. 


THE  TENTH  MAN      ^  159 

Bennett. 
If  the  slump  can  be  stopped,  I'll  stop  it. 

George  Winter. 

It's  not  a  matter  of  can.  It  must  be  stopped.  And 
Avire  reassuring  messages.  We  must  hang  on  to  the 
telephone  for  all  we're  worth. 

Bennett. 

Good-bye. 

George  Winter. 

And  come  back  when  the  House  closes.  We  must 
talk  over  things. 

Bennett. 

All  right.    Good  luck.  [He  goes  out, 

Etchingham. 
Is  it  all  up  with  us,  George  ? 

George  Winter. 
What  the  dickens  are  you  talking  about  ? 

Etchingham. 

They've  found  out  the  truth.  It's  there  in  black 
and  white  that  the  wretched  mine's  worthless, 

George  Winter. 
They  can't  p}:'OV^  anything, 


i6o  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etchingham. 

Ever  since  I  knew  I've  scarcely  closed  my  eyes  at 
night.    I  wish  I'd  shot  myself  when  you  first  told  me. 

George  Winter. 

My  dear  fellow,  you're  much  more  comfortable  here 
than  you  would  be  at  Kensal  Green. 

Etchingham. 

And  the  worst  of  it  is  .  .  .  [Re  breaks  of .]  At  first 
I  was  overcome  with  the  horror  of  it.  But  little  by 
little  I've  got  used  to  it,  used  to  your  being  a  thief 
and  a  swindler. 

George  Winter. 

[With  a  chuckle.]  You  put  things  rather  bluntly, 
don't  you  ? 

Etchingham. 

And  Bennett  was  a  convict.  It  all  seems  quite 
natural  now.  And  I  can  talk  and  laugh  with  you. 
And  I  eat  by  your  side  every  day. 

George  Winter. 
One  can't  make  a  fortune  without  taking  risks. 

Etchingham. 

There  are  always  those  missing  bonds.  They're  in 
my  thoughts  day  and  night. 

George  Winter. 
No  one  can  make  inquiries  for  three  weeks.     By 


THE  TENTH  MAN  i6i 

that  time  we  shall  have  gone  to  allotment,  and  the 
bonds  will  be  safely  back  in  the  black  box. 

Etch  INGHAM. 
But  will  you  be  able  to  go  to  allotment  ? 

George  Winter. 

Of  course  we  shall.  This  article  isn't  going  to  do 
us  any  harm.  I  shall  win  the  seat.  That'll  give  these 
Middlepool  people  confidence. 

Etching  HAM. 

George,  I  believe  Ford  is  uneasy.  I  don't  trust 
him.    Supposing  he  found  out  about  the  bonds  ? 

George  Winter. 
It  might  be  devilish  expensive. 

Etchikgham. 
You'll  never  buy  him. 

George  Winter. 

I  never  met  the  man  yet  who  hadn't  his  price. 
Flattery  if  he's  a  fool,  hard  cash  if  he's  a  wise  man. 
But  a  price  of  some  sort.     There's  always  a  price. 

Etchingham. 
Take  care  of  Ford,  George. 

George  Winter. 
[With  a  smile.]  I'm  not  frightened. 


1 62  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Etchingham. 

Sometimes    I'm   afraid,   you're  so  confident.     It's 
impossible  a  thing  like  this  can  end  well. 

Geokge  Winter. 

I  believe  in  my  star.  I've  been  in  tight  corners 
before,  but  I've  wriggled  out  of  them.  I'm  stronger 
than  ever  I  was.  I've  got  ten  times  more  brains 
than  any  of  my  competitors.  The  ball  is  at  my  feet 
and  I've  only  got  to  set  it  rolling.  What  d'you 
think  difficulties  are  to  me  ?  I've  never  been  in 
better  spirits,  so  alert,  so  buoyant,  as  during  these 
last  weeks  when  my  neck  has  been  in  a  noose  and 
every  policeman  I  passed  might  have  a  warrant  iti 
his  pocket  for  my  arrest.  If  there  were  ten  times 
more  difficulties  I'd  overcome  them  all.  In  ten 
years  I  shall  be  the  richest  man  in  London.  -■  In 
fifteen  I  shall  be  a  peer.  My  God,  I  feel  as  if  the 
world  were  an  orange  and  I'd  got  my  teeth  into  it, 
and  I  shall  suck  it  dry. 

Etchingham. 

I  wonder  how  many  ruined  lives  will  be  sacrificed 
to  give  you  all  j^ou  want.  You  walk  over  dead 
bodies  and  broken  hearts. 

George  Winter. 

Rot  !  I  flutter  the  will-o'-the-wisp  of  gain  before 
the  covetous,  and  they  follow.  They  want  to  make 
money  without  working  for  it.  Well,  I'm  cleverer 
than  they  are.  Swalecliffe  gambles  with  his  five 
hundred  pounds.     His  five  hundred  pounds  will  find 


THE  TENTH  MAN  163 

its  way  into  my  pocket.  It's  his  own  look  out. 
Each  for  himself  and  the  devdl  take  the  hindmost. 
[With  a  start. ^  By  George,  I've  got  an  idea.  .  .  .  The 
Lewishams  can't  attack  my  stocks  without  weakening 
their  own.  We're  in  the  same  boat,  and  if  one  of  us 
shakes  it  both'U  topple  out. 

ETCniXGIlAM. 

What  d'you  mean  ? 

Cteorge  Winter. 

Well,  we'll  attack  the  Lewishams.  I'll  get  on  to 
MacLaren's  at  once.  Go  to  the  post  office  and  wire 
to  Bennett.  He's  sure  to  call  at  the  office.  Sell 
Lewishams.  He'll  twig.  By  George,  that's  the 
ticket.  Why  didn't  I  think  of  it  before?  We'll 
make  the  Lewishams  sorry  they  started  this  game. 

Etchingham. 

But  supposing  .   .   .  ? 

George  Winter. 

Good  (lod,  man,  don't  suppose,  do  as  I  tell  you. 
Don't  you  see  we've  got  nothing  to  lose  and  every- 
thing to  gain?  I  know  my  luck's  in.  And  I  follow 
my  luck.     That's  genius. 

[Etchingham  ivith  a  sigh  and  a  shrug  of  the 
shoulders  goes  otU  to  send  the  teleg^xcm. 
George  Winter  begins  to  loalk  excitedly 
up  andj  doion. 


curtain. 


i64  TJIE  TENTH  MA^N 


SCENE  II 

TJie  scene  takes  ^;?ace  in  the  sitting-j-oom  of  the  Palace 
Jlotel,  but  it  is  eleven  o'clock  at  iiight.  Only  a 
reading  lamp  is  lit,  the  light  of  which  falls  on 
Catherine  and  Lady  Francis.  Catherine  is 
wo7'king  at  some  emhroidery. 

Lady  Francis. 

Can  you  see,  dear?     Wouldn't  you  like  some  more 
light?  ' 

Catherine. 

\With  an  affectionate  smile.^^  No,  the  light  hurts  my 
eyes. 

Lady   Francis. 

You're  looking  very  pale,  darling. 

Catherine. 

.  I  haven't  been  sleeping  very  well  here.     We're  so 
near  the  trains,  and  they  seem  to  run  all  night. 

Lady  Francis. 

I  wonder  how  George  can  stand  it.     His  room  is 
practically  on  the  railway. 

Catherine. 

Thank   heaven,    it's    over.     We    shall    know    the 
result  in  half  an  hour,  and  to-morrow  we  can  go. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  165 

Lady    Fkaxcih. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

Catherine. 
What  can  I  do  ?     Nothing. 

Lady   Francis, 
I'm  afraid  you're  very  unhappy,  Kate. 

Catherine. 
[Smiling.^  Please  don't  think  that,  motlier. 

Lady   Francis. 
You've  given  up  everything  for  our  sake. 

Catherine. 

I  wish  i  could  think  so.  I  gave  up  my  divorce 
because — because  I  was  afraid.  I  couldn't  risk  the 
regret  that  Robert  might  feel  later.  I  should  always 
have  been  looking  for  it.  .  .  .  One  must  never  forget 
that  love  is  a  woman's  whole  life,  but  it's  never  more 
than  part  of  a  man's,  never. 

Lady  Francis. 

What  did  you  tell  him  !? 

Catherine. 

I  wrote  and  said  I  found  it  impossible  to  go  on 
with  my  action.  I  begged  him  not  to  try  to  move 
me.     I  told  him  I  was  very  unhappy. 


i66  tHE  TENTH  MAN 

Lady  Francis. 
Poor  child. 

Catherine. 

He  wrote  very  kindly.  He  made  it  as  easy  for  me 
as  he  could.  And  now  it's  all  over.  I've  lost  my 
last  chance  of  happiness.  I'm  bound  to  my  husband 
for  the  rest  of  my  life. 

Lady  Francis. 
And  do  you  still  love  Kobert? 

Catherine. 

\Sln^ling.^^  Yes.  And  I'm  glad  of  what  I've  done. 
The  only  thing  that  helps  me  is  the  pride  I  take  in 
all  the  great  things  he's  going  to  do.  And  it  will 
have  been  me.     I  gave  him  the  opportunity. 

[Anne  comes  in.     She  is  loearing  a  coat  and 
skirt  and  a  Jiat. 

Anne. 

Well !  You  are  strange  people.  How  on  earth 
can  you  sit  there  and  sew  while  the  counting's  going 
on  ?     I've  never  been  so  excited  in  my  life. 

Catherine. 
Why  have  you  come  back  ? 

Anne. 

Well,  it's  nearly  finished  now.  Teddie  said  there'd 
be  rather  a  scrummage  when  the  result  was  known, 
and  I'd  better  get  out  of  the  way. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  167 

Catherine. 
\JSmiliny ^^     Obedient  creature. 

Anne. 

It  rather  amuses  me  to  be  ordered  about.     Besides, 

I    couldn't   help    seeing   that    nobody    wanted    me. 

Teddie  promised    he'd   bolt   round    as   soon    as   the 

result  was  out.    I  say,  let's  have  some  light,  shall  we  ? 

[She  turns  on  the  electricity,  and  the  room  is 

suddenly  a  glare  of  light. 

Lady  Francis. 
You'll  blind  us. 

Anne. 

I  love  an  election.  I've  never  had  such  a  time  in 
my  life.  I've  enjoyed  every  minute  of  these  three 
weeks.     I  hope  Teddie'U  go  into  Parliament. 

Lady  Francis. 
[Eaising  her  eyeb7'ows.]     On  four  hundred  a  year  ? 

Anne. 

Oh,  George  will  give  us  a  rise.  He  say's  Teddie's 
awfully  useful.     George  is  good,  isn't  he  ? 

Catherine. 
I'm  glad  you're  so  happy,  darling. 

Anne. 

[Ahi'uptli/f  after  a  little,  quick  look  at  her.]  You're 
not  angry  with  us,  Kate  ? 


1 68  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 
Good  heavens,  why  should  I  be  ? 

Anne. 

You  know,  it's  so  dreadfully  hard  to  pretend  I 
liaven't  got  eyes  in  my  head.  .  .  .  Why  don't  you 
make  it  up  with  George,  Katie? 

Catherine. 

I  don't  know  what  makes  you  think  there's  any- 
thing to  make  up. 

Anne. 

Oh,  my  dear,  what  I  didn't  guess  for  myself  Teddie 
told  me. 

Catherine. 

He  would  have  been  wiser  to  mind  his  own 
business. 

Anne. 
It  was  rather  .  .  . 

Catherine. 

If  you  knew  how  things  were  between  George  and 
myself,  and  you  were  willing  to  accept  his  favours 
what  do  you  expect  me  to  say  ?  I  didn't  ask  you  not 
to.  I  knew  if  I  had  you  would  only  have  refused. 
I'm  cynical  enough  to  know  that  in  this  world  each 
of  us  takes  care  of  his  own  interests. 

Lady  Francis. 
My  dear,  don't  be  so  bitter. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  169 

Anne. 

One  has  to  take  people  as  one  finds  them  ;  George 
has  always  been  charming  to  me.  If  you'd  only 
make  allowances  for  him  .  .   . 

Catherine. 

[Inter7mpti7ig  vehemently.]  Oh,  my  dear,  don't.  I'm 
not  in  the  humour  to  stand  that.  Leave  me  to  lead 
my  own  life  without  interference.  Surely  it's  enough 
that  to  bind  me  to  him  George  should  give  you  an 
income  to  marry  on.  You  can't  want  more  from 
me  than  that. 

Anne. 

Oh,  my  dear,  I'm  so  sorry.  1  didn't  mean  to  say 
anything  that  would  hurt  you. 

Cathehixe. 

[BecoveruKj  herself.]  You  haven't.  Forgive  me.  I 
didn't  mean  to  make  a  scene,  but  my  nerves  are  a 
little  upset,  I'm  a  very  weak,  selhsh  woman,  and  it's 
dreadfully  hard  to  be  half  as  angelic  as  you  think  me. 
I'm  very  glad  that  you're  going  to  marry  Teddie. 
You're  in  love  with  one  another,  and  if  you  haven't 
much  money,  what  does  it  matter?  I'm  sure  you'll  be 
tremendously  happy. 

Anne. 

You  are  a  dear. 

[Francis  Etchingham  comes  m.  He  is  wear- 
iny  a  di7iner  jacket  and  a  black  tie.  x\nne 
spi'irigs  up  impulsively. 


I70  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Anne. 
Is  it  over  ? 

Etchingham. 

No,  I  was  too  anxious  to  stay  any  longer. 

Lady  Francis. 

Bat  George  is  going  to  get  in  ? 

Etchingham. 

Who  can  tell  ?  The  seat  has  always  been  lost  or 
held  by  a  handful  of  votes. 

Anne. 

But  how  did  it  seem  to  be  going  ? 

Etchingham. 

Winter,  Morrison,  Winter,  Morrison.  One  vote  on 
one  side,  one  vote  on  the  other.  It  seemed  inter- 
minable. 

Lady  Francis. 

He  won  by  seventy-five  last  time. 

Etchingham. 

Who  can  tell  the  effect  of  all  these  rumours  and 
suspicions  and  attacks  ?  They  may  just  have  made 
the  difterence.     Oh,  it's  maddening, 

Catherine. 
Sit  down,  father,  and  rest.    You  look  quite  done  up. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  171 

Etchingham. 

Even  George  is  anxious.     I  know  his  face  so  well. 
He's  trying  to  appear  as  if  he  were  certain. 

Anne. 
No  human  being  could  help  being  anxious. 

Lady  Francis. 

[With  a  sudden   start^^  I  thought   I    heard    some 
shouting. 

Anne. 

Oh,  I  wish  I  hadn't  come  away. 

Lady  Francis. 

Let's  open   the  window.     Perhaps  we   shall  hear 
something. 

[Lady  Francis  and  Anne  (jo  to  the  window 
and  open  it. 

Lady  Francis. 

No,  I  was  mistaken, 

Anne. 

Listen.     I'm  sure  I  hear  cheering. 

[iShe  goes  out  on  to  the  balcony.  She  and 
Lady  Francis  are  half  hidden  from  vieio. 
so  that  it  may  he  supposed  the  following 
scene  heticeen  Catherine  and  Lord 
Francis  is  not  heard  by  them. 


172  THE  TEN  ill  MAN 

Etchinguam. 

[/7i  a  low  voice  to  Catherine.]  Oli,  my  dear,  will 
you  ever  forgive  me  ? 

(Jathekixe. 

Oh,  father,  don't.  It  was  very  noble  of  you  not  to 
tell  me  anything  before  I  decided.  Now  that  I  know 
the  whole  truth   .   .   . 

Etchingham. 

The  only  hope  we've  got  is  to  go  on.  If  he  gets  in, 
if  we  can  pull  things  together,  we  may  get  out  of  the 
muddle.  He  s  positive  of  it.  The  only  thing  that 
held  me  up  was  the  thought  of  all  of  you.  If  I'd 
gone  to  the  police  there  and  then — or  made  away 
with  myself,  it  would  have  meant  the  ruin  of  all 
of  you. 

Catherine. 

And  of  all  the  unhappy  people  who've  trusted 
everything  they  had  to  George. 

Etchingham. 

You  think  I  was  right,  Kate,  don't  you  '^  It 
wasn't  just  cowardice  on  my  part? 

Catherine. 
I  hope  you  were  right. 

Etchingham. 

But  if  it  was  all  in  vain  ?     If  he's  not  able  to  float 


THE  TENTH  MAN  173 

the  company  and  the  truth  comes  out,  then  I  shall 
have  sacrificed  you  for  nothing. 

Catherine. 
Oh,  don't  think  of  it. 

Etchingham. 

I  believe  if  he  wins  the  election  he'll  be  strong 
enough  to  force  the  issue  on  them. 

Catherine. 
But  if  the  mine's  worthless  ? 

Etchingham. 

We're  going  to  buy  the  shares  in  when  the  tide 
turos  in  Central  America.  Things  are  looking 
blighter  already.  Hes  promised  me  that  no  one 
shall  lose  a  farthing.  When  that's  done  I  go.  Oh, 
how  thankful  I  shall  be  ! 

Catherine. 
Oh,  I  know,  I  know. 

Etchingham. 

I  had  to  tell  some  one,  and  I  couldn't  tell  your 
mother. 

Catherine. 

I'm  glad  you  told  me.  It  makes  it  easier  to  bear 
now  we  both  know. 


174  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Annr. 
At  lust !   .   .   .    Fatlier,  father. 

[She  comes  hack  into  the  room,  excitedly,  and 
at  the  same  time  a  vague,  muffled  shoutimi 
is  heard,  in  the  distance.  Etchingham 
springs  to  his  feet, 

Etchinc4ham. 
Thank  God.    The  suspense  was  awfuh 

Lady  Fhancis, 
There's  no  mistaking  it  this  time. 

Etchingham. 

Is  he  in  ?     Is  he  in  ? 

Anne. 

Of  course  he's  in.     I've  never  felt  so  confident  in 
my  life. 

Etchingham. 

If  it's  all  right,  then  we're  safe.     I'm  sure  it's  the 
beginning  of  the  turn, 

Lady  Francis. 
Why  doesn't  Teddie  make  haste  ? 

Anne. 
Listen  to  the  shouting.     Isn't  it  splendid  ? 

[J/o?*e  shouting  is  heard,  this  time  a  little 
louder. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  175 

Etchingham. 
I  expect  they're  reading  out  the  figures. 

[Teddie  O'Donnell  rushes  in,  rather  di- 
shevelled, ivith  his  hat  on  the  hack  of  his 
head. 

O'Donnell. 
He's  in ! 

AXNE. 

How  ripping  ! 

[Francis  Etchingham  sinks  into  a  chair,  too 
overcome  to  s^jeak,  trying  to  comj^ose  himself. 
Catherine  puts  her  hand  on  his  shoidcler 
to  shoio  her  sympathy. 

Lady  Francis. 
What's  the  majority  ? 

O'Donnell. 
Twenty-seven. 

Anne. 
I  say,  what  a  squeak  !     •* 

O'Donnell. 

Just  at  the  end  I  thought  we  were  beaten.  It 
was  Morrison^  Morrison,  Morrison,  until  I  almost 
screamed. 

Etchingham. 

Well,  he's  in  at  all  events. 


176  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Anne. 

I  am  glad. 

[She    throv's     her    arms     impulsiveli/    round 
O'Donnell's  neck  and  kisses  him. 

O'DONNELL. 

By  Jove,  it  was  a  moment  to  live  for  when  the 
fic'ures  were  read  ont.  You  never  heard  such 
shouting. 

Catherine. 
Where  is  he  now  ? 

O'DoNNELL. 

When  I  left  he  was  making  a  speech  to  the  crowd. 
But  one  couldn't  hear  a  word,  because  every  one  was 
shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice.     I  simply  bellowed. 

Anne. 

[Enth II siasticalli/ .]  Aren't  you  glad,  Kate  ? 

Catherine. 
[S7n{li7ig.]  Yes,  very  glad. 

Anne, 

How  can  you  take  it  so  quietly  ! 

Lady  Francis. 
Is  he  coming  here  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN       ^  177 

O'DONNELL. 

Yes.  1  forgot  to  give  you  his  message.  He  sent 
his  love  to  Kate,  and  said  he'd  be  here  in  two  twos. 

AXNE. 

I  wish  he'd  hurry  up.     Isn't  he  a  darHng  ? 

O'DONNELL. 

He's  the  greatest  man  I've  ever  known.  He's  a 
perfect  stunner.  I  don't  know  what  there  is  about 
him,  but  you  can't  help  believing  in  him.  And  he 
was  so  splendid  this  morning  about  those  confounded 
lies  in  the  paper.  All  the  rest  of  them  were  as 
frightened  as  rabbits,  but  he  never  turned  a  hair. 

Anne. 
[J^Jxcitedbj.]  There's  a  car. 

O'DoNNELL. 

That's  it,  I  bet  you  anything  you  like. 

Anne. 

How  jolly  of  him  to  come  quickly  !  [>She  runs  to  the 
door  and  opens  ^t.^^  George,  George  ! 

[George  Winter   comes  in  boisterously  and 
das2)s  Anne  in  his  arms. 

Anne. 
Isn't  it  splendid ! 

M 


178  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 
Glorious  victory,  what ! 

[^He  is  followed   hy  Coloxel    Boyce,  James 
Ford,  Mr.  Swalecliffe,  and  two  other  men. 

Etchingham. 

Thank  God ! 

George  Winter. 

You  haven't  been  worried  about  it?  I  knew  I'd 
set  in.     I  never  had  a  moment's  doubt  about  it. 

James  Ford. 

[Drily, ^  No  one  can  say  you  don't  believe  in 
yourself. 

George  Winter. 

Hang  it  all,  if  you  don't  believe  in  yourself,  how 
can  you  expect  other  people  to  believe  in  you? 
Drinks,  gentlemen ! 

O'DONNELL. 

Shall  I  ring? 

George  Winter. 

I  told  the  waiter  on  my  way  up.  Here  they  are. 
[A  couple  of  waiters  come  in  with  glasses  and 
bottles  of  champagne.]  No  teetotalism  to-night,  Mr. 
Swalecliffe.  By  Jove,  I'm  thirsty.  Pour  it  out. 
Pour  it  out. 

Swalecliffe. 
I  never  touch  alcohol.  Mr.  Winter. 


THE  TENTH  MAN        .  179 

George  Winter. 

Poor  is  the  heart  that  never  rejoices.  Have  you 
all  got  glasses,  gentlemen  ?  Come  on,  Lady  Francis. 
Don't  be  backward,  Anne. 

Anne. 
Yes,  please. 

George  Winter. 

That's  right.  Now  then,  Teddie.  All  ready  ? 
Gentlemen,  I  give  you  my  wife,  to  whom  this  glorious 
victory  is  due. 

All. 

Mrs.  AVinter,  Mrs.  Winter.     Catherine. 

Catherine. 

[A'mharrassed  and  shy.]  Thank  you  very  much. 

[:Z%ere  «re   shouts  outside,  cheers :    Winter^ 
Winter,  For  he's  a  jolly  good  felloio. 

(tSeorge  Winter. 
Hulioa,  they've  come  round  to  the  hotel. 

Anne. 
Just  look  at  the  crowd. 

O'DONNELL. 

Hhall  I  open  the  window  ? 

George  Winter. 
[^Stepping  forward.]  Yes. 


I  So  THE  TENTH  MAN 

[At  his  appearance  the  shouts  hreah  out  more 
tumidtuously .  Cheer  upon  cheer  is  heard. 
George  Winter  jmts  up  his  hand  for 
silence. 

George  Winter. 

Gentlemen,  we've  won  a  great  fight.  We've  won 
in  face  of  a  campaign  of  lie?,  of  misrepresentation, 
and  of  scandal.  Truth  always  prevails.  Honesty  is 
the  best  policy.  A  glorious  victory,  gentlemen,  and  a 
triumph  for  English  honesty,  English  plain  dealing, 
and  English  integrity.  Gentlemen,  I  drink  your 
health. 

[He  drinks  his  glass  of  champagne  before  the 
crou)d.  The  cheering  ichich  has  been  going 
on  all  through  the  speech  noic  grows  louder 
and  louder.  There  are  shouts  of  Mrs. 
Winter. 

George  Winter. 
Kate,  they  want  you. 

Catherine. 
Xo.     Please  not. 

George  Winter. 

Come.  No  false  modesty.  Give  them  a  bow.  that 
won't  hurt  you. 

\He  takes  her  hand  and  di^aws  her  to  the  win- 
doiD.  The  crowd  hursts  out  again  into 
cheering.  George  Winter  comes  back  into 
the  room, 

George  Winter. 

My  word,  what  a  moment ! 


THE  TENTH  MAN        .  i8i 

BOYCE. 

You  must  be  dead  beat. 

George  Winter. 
I  ?     Fresh  as  a  daisy.     Nothing  can  beat  me. 

O'DONXELL. 

[Taking  out  his  ivatch.]  By  Jove,  I  had  no  idea  it 
was  so  late. 

BOYCE. 

I  think  I'll  be  getting  along. 

George  Winter. 

Ob,    nonsense!      Why,    the     evening's    only   just 
beginning. 

BOYCE. 

I'm  dog  tired, 

SWALECLIFFE. 

I  must   be   getting   away,  too.     My  wife  will  be 
wanting  to  know  all  about  it. 

George  Winter. 

Well,  if  I  can't  persuade  you,  I  suppose  I  can't.      I 
hope  you'll  all  have  as  good  a  night  as  I  mean  to. 

Swalecliffe. 
You  think  it's  all  right  about — about  that  matter  ? 


l82  THE  TENTH  MAN 


riEOllCJE    AViXTEIt. 


Don't  you  worry  your  head.     It's  as  riglit  as  rain. 
I  tell  you  that  nothing  I  touch  can  fail. 

SWALECLIFFE. 

Then  good-night. 

(tEorge  AVixter. 

Good -night. 

[Colonel  Boyce,  Swalecltffe,  and  the  other 
two  men  loho  came  in  ivith  them,  go  ovt, 

George  Winter. 
You're  not  going  yet,  Ford  ? 

James  Ford. 

No.     If  you   don't  mind   I'd  like  to  have  a  word 
with  you  when  you  can  spare  ine  a  few  minutes. 

George  AVixter. 
As  many  as  you  like.     I'm  ready  now.   / 

Lady  Francis. 

If  you're  going  to  talk  business,  we'd  better  leave 
you. 

James  Ford. 
I'm  in  no  hurry,  my  lady. 

Lady  Francis. 
It  really  is  getting  very  late. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  i8 


O'DOXNELL. 

Aren't  you  too  tired  for  business  now  '^    - 

George  Winter. 

Tired  ?  T  don't  know  what  it  is  to  be  tired.  When 
you  write  my  biography,  young  man,  you  can  say  that 
after  the  hardest  fought  battle  of  the  election,  when 
the  clieers  of  the  multitude  were  still  ringing  in  his 
ears,  he  sat  down  at  midnight,  fresh  as  paint,  and 
talked  business  with  the  shrewdest  man  in  Middlepool 
till  break  of  day. 

James  Ford. 

[D7HI7/.]  It'll  bp  more  accurate  if  you  say  for  ten 
minutes. 

George  Winter. 

But  so  much  less  effective. 

Anne. 

I'm  sure  you've  been  drinking  too  much  champagne, 
George. 

George   Winter. 

[Laughing.]  ]N"onsense.  I  could  drink  a  gallon, 
and  be  as  sober  as  a  judge  at  the  end  of  it. 

Anne. 

Well,  good-night. 

George  Winter. 

[Kissing  her.]  Good-night,  my  chick.  Have  you 
named  the  happy  day  yet  i 


iS.)  Tin-:  TEXT  1 1  MAN 

JjAdy  Francis. 
Gootl-night. 

George  Winter. 

[To  O'DoxxELL.]  And  you  can  add  that  I  enveloped 
my  niotlier-in-law  in  my  arms. 

Lady  Fjiancis. 

[With  a  smile,  vxirdimj  off  his  attempt   to  emhrace 
'Jicr.^  I  congratulate  you.     It's  l)een  a  great  trinnipli. 

George  AVixter, 

Oh,  it's  only  the  beginning.  I've  got  the  world 
at  my  feet.  In  ten  years  I  shall  be  crying  like 
Alexander  because  there  are  no  more  worlds  to 
conquer. 

O'Doxnell. 

You  don't  want  me  any  more;,  do  you  '^ 

[Lady  Francis  mid  Anxe  //o  out. 

George  AVixter. 

No,  go  to  bed.  You're  young,  and  you  w^ant  your 
beauty  sleep.  I'll  be  bound  you're  not  worried  by  the 
trains.     Where's  your  room  ? 

O'DONNELL. 

It's  just  above  yours.     But  I  sleep  like  a  top. 

George  AVinter. 

That's  a  good  sign.  You'll  be  as  great  a  man  as  I 
am  one  of  these  days. 


THE  TENTH  MAX  1S5 

O"  Donne  LL. 

[With  a  laugh.']  Good-night. 

George  Winter. 

\_To  Etchingham.]  xVnd  you'd  better  go  off  too,  old 
man.     You  look  tired  out. 

Etchingham. 

\]Vearihj.]  It's  been  an  exciting  day  for  all  of  us. 

Gkorge  Winter. 

It's  been  one  of  the  days  that  make  life  worth 
living. 

Etchingham. 
Good-night. 

[J.s-  tlteij  (JO  out  Catherine  comes  forvmrd. 

Catherine. 

I  won't  say  good-night  to  you  just  yet.  If  Mr. 
Ford  is  not  going  to  keep  you  long  I  should  like  to 
speak  to  you  afterwards. 

James  Ford. 
It'll  be  ten  minutes  at  the  utmost,  Mrs.  Winter. 

George  Winter. 

[With  exaggerated  gallantry.]  I'm  at  your  disposal, 
darling,  now  and  always. 

[With  a  slight  how  to  James  Ford,  Catherine 

goes  out. 


T8f.  THE  TJ-NTII  MAX 

Oeojkji:    W'im'ek. 

I  told  you  I  was  justified  in  trusting  my  luck. 
Everything  is  coming  out  right.  The  Lewishams 
won't  be  able  to  stand  against  me  much  longer. 
They'll  have  to  take  me  in.  Well  combine  our 
interests,  and  then  we  shall  hold  Central  America 
in  the  hollow  of  our  hands.  You'll  be  in  it  too,  James. 
You're  going  to  be  a  richer  man  than  you  guess. 
And  when  I'm  in  with  the  Lew^ishams  I  shall  bide 
m}'  time.  Manny  Lewisham  can't  last  much  longer, 
and  his  sons  are  fools.  AVhen  he's  gone  I  shall  get 
the  whole  business  in  my  hands.  I've  got  ten  times 
more  brains  than  anyone  in  that  market.  There's  no 
one  who  can  stand  against  me. 

James  Ford. 

[Quietli/.]  You  haven't  forgotten  that  article  in 
The  F'niancial  Standard  l 

George  Winter. 

\Ga\hi?\^  Oh,  is  that  what  you  want  to  talk  to  me 
about  ?  I  tell  you  that  shan't  disturb  my  nights  rest. 
By  the  wa}^,  that  reminds  me  :  if  I  have  won  the 
election  it  was  through  no  help  of  yours.  I  asked  you 
to  go  down  and  speak  in  the  Cattle  Market,  and  when 
I  got  there  I  found  there'd  been  no  sign  of  you.  It 
might  have  been  devilish  awkward. 

James  Ford. 

Well,  it  so  happens  it  didn't  matter. 

George  Winter. 

Wliere  did  you  get  to  after  all  ? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  1S7 

James  Ford. 
[Looking  at  him.]  I  went  up  to  London  ! 

George  Winter. 

[Indiferenthj,  doing    all   he    can  to    hide   his   s?/s- 
picio7i.]   Did  you  ? 

James  Ford. 

[Very  quietly,  almost  diffid.enthj.']  I  was  struck  by 
one  of  the  paragraphs  in  the  article.  The  one  about 
wliere  you  got  tlie  money  from. 

George  Winter. 

[With  a  smile.']  I  noticed  that  seemed  to  bother  you 
a  bit. 

James  Ford. 

Things  were  pretty  tight  at  that  time. 

George  AVinter. 

A  man  in  my  position  can  always  lay  his  hands  on 
money. 

James  Ford. 

It  was  a  big  sum. 

George  Winter. 

Fair  to  moderate. 

[There  is  a  very  short  pause.  The  tv:o  men., 
both  shreind,  hard  and  keen,  face  one  another 
like  tiro  duellists. 

James  Ford. 
It   struck    me  that    the    Middlepool    Investment 


1 88  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Trust  liacl  got  ;i  large  batch  of  bonds  lyii)g  in  the 
bank. 

[Re  u-atches  George  Winter  for  the  effect  of 
this  statement. 

George    Wixter. 
[ir/M  a  smile.^^  Well,  they're  lying  there  still. 

James  Ford. 
Will  you  take  your  oath  on  that  ? 

George  Winter. 
Yes. 

James  Ford. 

The  more  I  thought  of  it,  the  more  nervous  I  was. 
I  went  to  the  bank. 

[George  Winter  gives  him  a  rapid  look,  hit 
otherioise  makes  no  sign  that  he  realizes  his 
theft  is  discovered. 

James  Ford. 

They  showed  me  an  order  for  delivery  of  the  bonds 
signed  by  you,  Etchingham^  and  Bennett. 

George  Winter. 
Have  a  cigar,  will  you  ? 

James  Ford. 
No    .  .  .  What  have  you  done  with  those  bonds? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  189 

George  AVixter. 

if  they're  in  their  place  when  the  auditor  makes  his 
examination  no  one  has  any  question  to  ask. 

James  Ford. 

[More  sternly.^  You  had  no  more  right  to  toucli 
them  than  my  office  boy  has  the  right  to  take  a  sove- 
reign from  the  petty  cash. 

George  Winter. 

What  the  devil  d'you  mean  by  that  ? 

James  Ford. 

I'm  a  director  of  the  Middlepool  Investment  Trust. 
I  insist  on  the  bonds  being  produced  at  once. 

George  Winter. 
Tliey  shall  be  produced  in  a  fortnight. 

James  Ford. 
No,  no,  my  friend,  that  won't  do. 

George  Winter. 

[Impatienthj.^  Don't  be  a  fool,  James,  you  know  as 
well  as  I  do  that  business  is  business. 

James  Ford. 
Yes,  and  not  theft. 

George  Winter. 

[Apparently  Jiying  into  a  passion^^  How^  dare  you 
speak  to  me  like  that ! 


igo  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford. 

It's  no  good  trying  to  bluster  with  nie,  George. 
I've  seen  you  do  it  at  shareholders'  meetings  and 
very  effective  it  is  sometimes,  but  this  isn't  the  time 
for  it. 

l^^rhere  is  a  pause.    George  Winter  considers 
the  position  and  determines  to  face  it. 

George  Winter. 

All  right  then  ...  I  knew  the  mine  was  a  good 
thing.  I  pledged  the  bonds  to  pay  for  it.  I  shall  get 
them  back  as  soon  as  the  money  comes  in  f lom  the 
issue.     Now  you've  got  it. 

James  Ford. 
It's  theft  pure  and  simple. 

George  Winter. 

\Insolently ."[  I  suppose  you  want  to  come  in  with 
me.  [Z/e  does  not  notice  James  Ford's  instinctive 
7)ioveme7it  of  rejndsion?^  I'll  give  you  your  shares  for 
nothing.  That  means  ten  thousand  pounds,  and  if 
you  hold  on  to  them  they'll  be  worth  fifty  thousand 
in  a  year. 

James  Ford. 

Thank  you.  I'm  not  going  to  risk  a  lifetime's 
honest  work  for  a  few  thousand  pounds. 

George  Winter. 
Then  what  do  you  want  ? 


Nothing. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  191 

James  Ford. 

George   Winter. 

[With  a  slight  smile.]  YouVe  been  Mayor  of  Middle- 
pool  twice,  and  you've  done  a  lot  of  work  for  the  party. 
I  can't  help  thinking  it's  almost  time  the  Government 
showed  some  appreciation  of  your  services. 

James  Ford. 

You've  mistaken  your  man,  George  Winter.  I've 
worked  like  a  nigger  for  thirty  years.  I've  not  let 
any  chance  slip  by  me,  but  I've  never  done  anything 
that  a  man  need  be  ashamed  of.  I've  built  up  an 
honest  business  to  leave  to  my  sons,  and  an  honest 
name.     I'm  too  old  to  start  being  a  rogue  now. 

George  Winter. 

[Liipatiently.]  I  thought  you  wanted  to  talk 
business. 

James  Ford. 

Right's  right,  and  wrong's  wrong.  You  can't  ge  t 
over  that.  I  couldn't  rest  for  a  moment  if  I  thought 
any  act  of  mine  wasn't  above  board.  It's  no  credit  of 
mine,  I'm  just  made  that  way. 

George  Winter. 

[As  if  he  icere  talking  to  a  child.]  Come,  James, 
we've  been  good  friends  for  twenty  years. 


192  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford. 

[In  a  loic  rolce.\  This  afternoon,  when  1  found 
out  wliat  you'd  done — well,  I  could  hav^e  cried. 

[  There  is  a  real  (inyaish  in  his  tone  wldch 
HtartUs  GEORtiE  Winter.  For  the  first 
time  he  recdizeti  that  the  affair  is  serious, 
lie  hey  ins  to  yet  frightened. 

Georue   Winter. 
\(^uicMy^  hoarsely.]  But  you  don't  mean  seriou.sly 

James  Ford. 

[^iJesperately,]  How  can  I  make  you  understand  ? 
You  don't  seem  to  see  that  now  I  know  what  you've 
done  I'm  just  filled  with  horror  and  loathing.  If 
you've  done  this  God  knows  what  else  you  haven't 
done.  I  don't  want  to  be  hard  oii  you.  I  must  do 
my  duty.  I'm  a  director  of  the  company,  I  put  all 
my  friends  in  it.  I  put  my  sister  into  it.  And  this 
mine.  Is  it  true  what  that  paper  says  ?  For  all  I 
know  that's  a  swindle  too. 

George  Winter. 

\]Vith  suddeii  anxiety .^  You're  not  going  to  push  me 
down  now  that  I'm  almost  at  the  top  of  the  tree  ? 
I've  got  the  world  at  my  feet.  If  you'll  only  give  me 
a  month  I  can  put  everything  straight. 

James  Ford. 

Five  minutes  ago  it  was  a  fortnight.  I  don't 
believe  it.     These  things  don't  come  right.     When  a 


THE  TENTH  MAN  193 

man  has  crossed  the  line  that  separates  honesty  from 
dishonesty  lie  never  gets  back. 

George  Winter. 

If  you  give  me  away  now  it'll  mean  a  general 
smash.  The  only  chance  of  saving  things  is  to  go  on. 
The  money's  gone.  You  won't  get  it  back  by  giving 
me  up  to  the  police. 

James  Ford. 

I  must  take  my  chance  of  that.  After  all,  if  I 
don't  speak  it  makes  me  a  party  to  the  crime.  It  can 
be  proved  that  I  went  to  the  bank  to-day. 

George  Winter. 

Now  you're  saying  something  I  can  understand. 
If  I  show  you  by  plain  figures  that  I  can  put  every- 
thing right  if  you'll  only  give  me  time  .   .   . 

James  Ford. 

I  tell  you  I  can't.  I've  got  my  wife  to  think  of, 
and  my  boys.  It's  theft,  it's  the  money  of  orphans 
and  widows  that  you've  taken,  and  there's  only  one 
course  open  to  me. 

George  Winter. 

What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

James  Ford. 

[Brokenli/.]  My  God,  what  can  I  do?  I  trusted 
you  as  I  would  have  trusted  my  sons. 

George  Winter. 
Out  with  it ! 

N 


194  THE  TENTH  MAN 

James  Ford.  — 

[  must — I  must  consult  the  Chief  Constable. 

George  AVinter. 

You  wouldn't  do  that  ?  You  don't  seriously  mean 
that  you'd  go  to  the  police  ?  It's  madness.  It's  so 
impractical.    It's  stupid. 

James  Ford. 

I  could  never  respect  myself  again  if  I  .  .  .  It's  a 
matter  between  my  conscience  and  myself.  .  .  .  Oh, 
George,  why  have  you  put  me  in  this  position  ? 

George  Winter. 

Look  here,  old  man,  I've  done  wrong.  I  admit  it. 
I've  done  something  that  other  men  have  done  before 
me  and  it's  come  out  all  right.  At  the  time  I 
thought  the  slump  would  only  last  a  few  days,  and  I 
thought  I  should  be  able  to  replace  the  bonds  in  a 
week.  It's  the  only  slip  I've  made.  Don't  be  too 
hard  on  me.  .  .  .  [With  a  break  in  his  voice.]  Have 
mercy  as  you  hope  in  your  turn  to  have  mercy  shown 
to  you.  Don't  ruin  me  for  this  one  mistake.  Let  it 
mean  something  to  you  that  I'm  humiliating  myself 
before  you.  ...  It  wasn't  a  crime.  It  was  only 
thoughtlessness.     Give  me  another  chance. 

[James  Ford,  with  his  face  between  his  hands, 
thinks  it  over.  He  is  deeply  tnoved  by 
George  Winter's  aj^j^eal.  George, 
watching  him  keenly^  thinks  he  is  going 
to  yield. 


/ 

THE  TENTH  MAN  i95 

-^  George  Winter. 

WeVe  gone  through  bad  times  and  good  together. 
I've  been  a  good  friend  to  you.  You've  never  had 
anything  to  reproach  me  with  till  now. 

James  Ford. 

[B7'okenly.]  I  can't  risk  the  money  of  all  these 
poor  people  again. 

George  Winter. 

Will  it  satisfy  you  if  I  give  up  the  directorship  of 
the  Middlepool  Trust  ?  Give  me  six  months  to  save 
my  face  and  I'll  resign. 

[James  Ford  looks  up  at  him,  ivondering  if  he 
can  put  any  trust  in  George  Winter. 
George  icaitsfor  the  decision  with  beating 
heart.     He  feels  almost  sick  vAth  fear. 

James  Ford. 

I'll  tell  youw^hat  I'll  do.  If  the  bonds  are  in  their 
place  by  four  o'clock  to-morrow  I'll  say  nothing, 

George  Winter. 

^Astounded,']  To-morrow  ?  It  can't  be  done.  It's 
impossible. 

James  Ford. 

That's  all  I  can  do  for  you. 

George  Winter. 

^Hardly  knowing  lohat  he  is  saying.]  But  no  one 
could   get   it.      You    know    it's    impossible.      Even 


196  THE  TEN  HI  MAN 

if  you  gave  me  a  week  I  couldn't  do  it.  I  can't, 
1  can't,  I  can't.  With  the  attack  on  us  to-day  we're — 
we're  tottering  It's  as  much  as  wo  shall  be  able 
to  do  to  hold  out  till  the  tide  turns.  That's  not 
/ijiving  me  a  chance.  Not  a  chance.  To-morrow  ! 
It's  absurd  ! 

James  Ford. 

That's  my  last  word. 

George  Winter. 

You  might  as  well  send  for  the  police  at  once.    Oh, 
my  God  !    It's  impossible. 

James  Ford. 

If  the  money  is  not  there   by  the  time  the  bank 
closes  I  shall  apply  for  a  warrant. 

George  Winter. 

D'ypu  know  what  that  means  ?     It  means  a  trial, 
and  then — and  then  prison. 

James  Ford. 
I  can't  do  more  for  you  than  I've  offered. 

[The  finality  of  this,  the  deep  regret  and  the 
decision  in  Ford's  tone,  are  like  a  hloiv  in 
the  face  to  George  Winter.  lie  gives  a 
sudden  start,  and  throwing  off  his  humble- 
ness, fiies  into  ungovernable  passion.  lie 
whips  himself  into  a  rage  as  he  flings  the 
scornfid  invective  at  James  Ford  and  ends 
up  on  the  last  words  in  a  positive  scream  of 
fury. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  I97 

George  Winter. 

Oh,  it's  infamous.  It's  damned  hypocrisy.  You 
don't  care  if  I've  taken  the  money  or  not.  You're 
afraid  of  your  own  skin.  And  you're  jealous  of  me. 
It's  envy.  I  knew  you  envied  me  all  the  time. 
D'you  think  I've  been  taken  in  by  you?  You  were  a 
little  tin  god  in  Middlepool  till  I  came  along.  You 
didn't  fight  me  like  a  man.  You  just  sided  with  me, 
waiting  for  your  chance  to  trip  me  up.  You  think 
when  I'm  gone  you'll  have  the  field  to  yourself. 
Why  shouldn't  you  be  the  member  as  well  as  I  ?  It's 
mean.  It's  mean.  You  with  your  damned  Chris- 
tianity, your  parrot  cries  of  honesty.  Damn  you ! 
Damn  you  !     Damn  you  ! 

James  Ford. 

[Quietlf/.]  You  see,  you've  gone  too  far.  I  shall 
never  make  you  understand.  You  can't  realize  that  a 
man  may  be  honest,  even  if  he  loses  by  it,  just  because 
he  can't  help  it,  because  he's  made  straight  as  some 
men  are  made  crooked. 

George  Winter. 

It's  childish. 

James  Ford. 

You've  got  through  the  world  by  knowing  that  nine 
men  out  of  ten  are  rascals.  You've  forgotten  that  the 
tenth  man  must  cross  your  path  at  last. 

[When  he  hears  these  words  George  Winter 
gives  a  start,  aicd  he  looks  at  Ford  ^vith 
staring^  terrified  eyes.  He  jjasses  his  hand 
over  his  forehead,  trying  to  recall. 


198  THE  TENTH  MAN 

George  Winter. 
\^Alinost  to  himself ^^  AVlio  said  that  to  me  before  ? 

\lliere  is  a  jmiise. 
James  Ford. 
Good-bye,  George.     My  promise  holds. 

George  Winter. 

[Bitterly.^  It's  no  good  to  me.  I'm  like  a  rat  in  a 
trap.  You  can  get  what  fun  you  like  out  of  seeing 
me  wriggle. 

[/or  a  moment  James  Ford  looks  at  him, 
then  silently  goes  out.  George  Winter  is 
seized  loith  a  horrible,  convulsive  trembling. 
He  shakes  as  a  man  onight  shake  in  an 
ague.  With  his  quick  mind  he  sees  that  no 
subtlety  will  save  him  now  ;  he  is  up  against 
the  blank  icall  of  a  character  as  strong  as 
his  0W71.  In  a  moment  Catherine  enters 
the  room. 

George  Winter. 
What  the  devil  d'you  want  ? 

Catherine. 
I  heard  Mr.  Ford  go.    May  I  speak  to  you  now  ? 

[George  Winter  makes  an  effort  to  appear 
composed. 

George  Winter. 
Well? 


THE  TENTH  MAN  199 

Catherine. 

Now  that  the  election  is  over  you  can  hav^e  no 
further  use  for  me.  I've  carried  out  my  part  of  the 
bargain  scrupulously. 

George  Winter. 

[Puttiyig  his  hand  in  a  dazed  icay  to  his  head.]  I 
don't  knew  what  you're  talking  about. 

Catherine. 

I  understand  that  I've  condoned  all  your  ofiences 
towards  me,  and  I'm  helpless  now  to  do  anything.  So 
you  need  have  no  fear  that  I  shall  interfere  with  you 
in  any  way.  [He  turns  round  and  looks  at  her.  He 
takes  in  at  last  what  she  is  saying.]  But  there's  no 
reason  that  I  should  expose  myself  any  longer  to  a 
humiliation  that  I  found  unbearable.  I've  come  to 
tell  you  that  now  I've  done  all  you  exacted  I'm  going 
to  leave  you,  this  time  for  good.  I'm  starting  early 
to-morrow  morning  for  the  Continent  with  my  friend 
Barbara  Herbert,  and  I  shall  not  return.  You  can 
devise  whatever  explanation  you  think  necessary,  and 
you  may  be  quite  sure  I  shan't  contradict  it.  I  shall 
be  gone  by  the  time  you  get  up.  You  will  find  in  my 
room  all  the  trinkets  you've  given  me.  I  wish  to  take 
nothing  with  me  tliat  I  have  received  from  you. 

George  Winter. 
[With  clenched  teeth.]  Are  you  leaving  your  clothes  ? 

Catherine. 
[With  a  shrug  of  the  shoidders,]   I  think  there  is 


200  THE  TENTH  MAN 

nothing  more  to  be  said.  Good-bye.  I  trust  you  to 
leave  me  in  peace.  I  promise  on  my  side  to  do  nothing 
tliat  can  inconvenience  you. 

[She  luaitsfor  a  moment  to  see  if  he  has  anythivg 
further  to  say,  hut  as  he  remains  silent  she 
(joes  toicards  the  door.  As  she  is  about  to  go 
out  he  bursts  into  a  peal  of  laughter.  Site 
stojys  icith  a  start  and  looks  at  him.  His 
laughter  groves,  jyeal  upon  j^ecd.  It  becomes 
ivUd  and  shrill  and  hysterical.  He  beUoics 
ivith  laughter.  Already  half  frightened,  not 
understanding,  Catiierixe  makes  a  stej) 
or  two  hack  into  the  room, 

Catherine. 

What's  the  matter  ?     George,  George  ! 

[He  laughs  still,  and  then  sudxltnly  breaks  i7ito 
a  sob.  He  gives  way  entirely,  ayid  bursts 
into  uncontrolled  iceepjing. 

Catherine. 
[Coming  down  to  him.'\  George,  what  is  it  ? 

George  Winter, 

For  God's  sake  give  me  a  drink. 

[She  hurries  to  the  half-empty  bottle  of  cham- 
pagne on  the  table  and  pours  out  a  glass  of 
vnne.     He  drinks  it  at  a  gulp. 

George  Winter. 

[Recovering  himself.]  That's  lich,  that  is.     Rich. 

[Again  he  hursts  into  laughter. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  201 


Catherine, 


What  is  it,  George  ?  It's  not  because  I'm  going 
away? 

George  Winter. 

Your  going  away  doesn't  matter  a  damn  to  me. 
It  means  that  I've  been  done  in  the  eye.  Those 
swindling  rogues,  the  Lewishams,  have  got  me  at 
last.  That  article's  done  the  trick  and  I'm  dished. 
You  can  go  your  own  way  now,  Kate.  You've  got 
the  better  of  me  after  all. 

Catherine. 

I  don't  understand. 

George  Winter. 

James  Ford  knows  that  the  bonds  have  gone.  And 
he's  going  to  Scotland  Yard. 

Catherine. 

Oh  !     And  father  ? 

George  AVinter. 

Oh,  I  can't  worry  about  your  father  now.  He  must 
look  after  his  own  skin.  I've  got  enough  to  do  to 
think  of  myself. 

Catherine. 
What  shall  I  do  ? 

George  Winter, 

He'll  give  me  till  to-morrow  to  replace  them,  but  I 
can't.      It's    impossible.      And    he    knows    I    can't. 


202  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Damned  hypocrite  !  I  shouldn't  complain  if  I'd  been 
beaten  fairly;  but  it's  so  childish.  And  just  when 
I'd  got  the  reins  in  my  hand.  He  can't  countenance 
dishonesty.  It's  childish.  I  always  distrusted  him. 
Sanctimonious  prig !  He's  jealous  of  me.  He  wants 
to  kick  me  off  my  perch,  so  that  he  can  take  my 
place.  And  I  know  him.  I  know  him  inside  out. 
He'll  do  what  he  says.  [With  an gjy  scorn.]  It's  his 
duty. 

Catherine. 
Can't  we  sell  things  ?     There's  my  jewellery. 

George  Winter. 

A  drop  in  the  ocean.  How  can  I  get  eighty 
thousand  pounds  in  a  falling  market. 

Catherine. 
[Ilo7'7'ified.]  D'you  mean  to  say  they'll  arrest  you  ? 

George  Winter. 

[With  a  dull  roar,  like  a  ivild  beast  at  hay.]  No. 
D'you  think  I'm  going  to  stand  that,  and  a  trial,  and 
— and  all  the  rest  ? 

Catherine. 

[Wringing  her  hands.]  Is  there  no  chance  that  you 
may  get  ofl*? 

George  Winter. 

Bennett  would  give  me  away  to  save  himself.  I 
know  him.    There's  not  a  man  I  can  trust.    The  onlv 


THE  TENTH  M4N         ^  203 

thing's  to  have  done  with  it  at  once.     I  must  get  out 
of  it  while  I  have  the  chance. 

Catherine. 

D'you  think  there's  any  hope  of  your  getting 
away  ? 

George  Winter. 

My  way.    Yes. 

Catherine. 

[Understanding.^  Oh,  George,  you  wouldn't  do 
that. 

George  Winter. 

What  else  d'you  expect  me  to  do'^  D'you  think 
I'm  going  to  bolt  to  America,  to  be  brought  back  in 
six  months  by  a  couple  of  detectives  ?     Not  much. 

Catherine. 

Wouldn't  it  be  better  to  stay  and  face  it  ?  If 
you've  done  wrong,  can't  you  accept  your  punish- 
ment?    You're  young  still. 

George  Winter. 

They  won't  have  mercy  on  me.  It'll  mean  ten 
years.  And  when  I  come  out,  it'll  mean  hiding, 
doing  odd  jobs,  like  Bennett,  dirty  work  for  other 
men  who  won't  risk  their  own  skins.  And  what 
d'you  suppose  a  life  like  that  is  worth  to  me?  I 
want  the  power,  and  the  notoriety,  aud  the  glamour. 
I  wanted  men  to  point  me  out  in  the  street.  I've 
aimed  too  high  to  be  content  with  anything  but  the 
highest. 


204  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catuerine. 

Oh,  it's  horrible. 

George  Winter. 

Come,  Kate — honestly — if  you  loved  me,  wouldn't 
you  wish  me  to  make  an  end  of  it  ? 

Catherine. 
[^After  a  long  look  athim,^^  Oh,  don't  ask  me. 

George  Winter. 

Will  you  do  something  for  me  ?  It's  the  last  thing 
I'll  ever  ask  you. 

Catherine. 

I'll  do  anything  I  can. 

George  Winter. 

I  want  half  an  hour  to  myself.  You  must  let  no 
one  come  to  me  under  any  pretext  whatever. 

Catherine. 

\Wi'h  a  cry  of  horror ?\  You're  not  going  to  do  it 
now  ? 

George  Winter.  5 

I  don't  trust  James  Ford.  He  may  have  gone  to 
Scotland  Yard  already.  Perhaps  the  detectives  are 
already  on  their  way. 

Catherine. 
You've  said  yourself  that  he's  to  be  relied  on. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  205 

George  "Winter. 

Oh,  I'm  frightened.  And  what's  the  good  ?  I'm 
dead  beat.  Perhaps  to-morrow  I  shouldn't  have  the 
nerve. 

Catherine. 
Oh,  it's  awful. 

George  Winter. 

\]Vith  a  Icmgh.]  Why,  it's  your  freedom. 

[Re  goes  to  the  table  and  jwitrs  himself  out  a 
glass  of  hrandy. 

George  Winter. 

I'm  mixing  my  liquors.     Bad  habit,  isn't  it  ?    You'll 
be  ravishing  in  black,  darling.      It  always  suited  you. 

[Catherine  gives  an  inarticulate  sob.  George 
Winter,  sh'ugging  his  shoulders,  goes 
toioards  the  door. 

George  Winter. 

Will  you  promise  to  prevent  anyone  from  disturbing 
me  ? 

Catherine. 
'Yes. 

George  Winter. 

In  half  an  hour  you  can  go  to  bed.  ...  I  hope 
you'll  sleep  as  soundly  as  I  shall. 

[He  goes  out  and  locks  the  door  behind  him. 
Catherine  hides  her  face  in  her  hands  and 
moans    ivith   fright    a7id   horror.      In    a 


2o6  THE  TENTH  MAN 

moment  O'Donnell  comes  in.     Catherine 

starts  as  she  hear's  him. 

Catherine. 
I  thought  you'd  gone  to  bed. 

O'Donnell. 

I  feel  so  awfully  wide  awake.  I  came  in  to  see  if 
I  could  find  a  book. 

Catherine. 

[Pointi7ig  to  a  table.]  There  are  some  over  there. 

O'Donnell. 

You're  looking  dreadfully  done  up.  Why  don't 
you  turn  in  ? 

[At  that  moment  shouts  are  heard  in  the  square 
heloio,  cheers  and  cries  q/'^^^INTER. 

Catherine. 
[Frightened.]  What's  that  ? 

O'Donnell. 

[Going  to  the  windoio.]  Oh,  it's  closing  time. 
Enthusiastic  politicians  who've  been  turned  out  of 
the  public-houses. 

[CWes  o/ Winter,  Winter. 

Catherine. 
Oh,  send  them  away,  I  can't  bear  it. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  207 

O'DuNNELL. 

[Opening  the  loindoio  and  calliny  out.^^  Mr.  Winter 
has  gone  to  bed,  gentlemen,  and  I  strongly  recom- 
mend you  to  follow  his  example, 

\He  shuts  the  window,  amid  the  laughter  and 
cheers  of  the  roistey^ers.  They  go  away 
singing.  Catherine  clenches  her  hands  to 
prevent  herself  from  screaming. 

O'DONNELL. 

[With  a  laugh.]  Splendid,  aren't  they  ? 

Catherine. 
Now,  yon  really  must  go  to  bed. 

O'DoNNELL. 

[Talcing  a  hook  from  the  tahle.]  All  right.  I  dare 
say  we  shall  have  a  busy  day  to-morrow.  ...  I  really 
think  this  is  the  happiest  day  I've  ever  had.  Life  is 
jolly,  isn't  it  ? 

Catherine. 

[With  a  strange  look  at  him.]  Yes. 

O'DoNNELL, 

Good-night. 

Catherine. 
[With  a  sudden  start,]  Oh  ! 

O'DoNNELL. 

What's  the  matter  ? 


2o8  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Oatiieiune. 
I  thought  I  heard  a  sound. 

O'DONNELL. 

I  didn't.     The  hotel's  as  still  as  death,  for  a  wonder. 
I  hope  the  trains  won't  disturb  you  to-night. 

Catherine. 
Good-night. 

[//e  goes  out.  Catherine  turns  and  looks  at 
the  door  0/ George  Winter's  7'oom.  She 
iaJces  a  step  towards  it. 


Catherine. 


George ! 


[She  listens,  hut  there  is  no  answer.  With  a 
gesture  of  horror  she  titrns  away.  Fred 
Bennett  hursts  into  the  rooiii. 

Bennett. 

I  beg  your  pardon.     I  didn't  expect   to  find  any 
one  here.     Where's  the  Governor  ? 

Catherine. 
I  don't  know. 

Bennett. 

I  want  to  see  him  at  once. 

Catherine. 
He  can't  see  any  one  to-night. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  209 

Bennett. 
He'll  see  me. 

Catherine. 

He  left  instructions  that  no  one  was  to  bother  him. 

Bennett. 
It's  a  matter  of  life  and  death. 

Catherine 

[With  a  skive?'  of  api')rehension.\    I  tell  you,  you 
can't  see  him. 

Bennett. 
Isn't  he  in  his  room  ? 

Catherine. 
No. 

Bennett. 

[Going  towards  the  door.]  Are  you  sure  ? 

Catherine. 

[Getting  in  his  way]  He's  tired  out.     Can't  you  let 
him  rest  ? 

Bennett, 

Oh,  but  you    don't  know  what's  happened.     The 
mine's  all  right.  For  goodness'  sake,  let  me  go  to  him. 

Catherine. 
[Quickly.']  What  do  you  mean  ? 


2IO  THE  TENTH  MAN 


Bennett. 


\^The  words  tumhling  over  07ie  another  in  his  hurry. \ 
The  manager  had  taken  IMacdonald  in,  hadn't  shown 
him  a  new  shaft  they'd  sunk.  The  place  is  crammed 
full  of  gold.  It  was  only  a  dodge  of  the  Lewishams. 
I  did  what  the  Governor  told  me.  I  just  flooded  the 
market  with  selling  orders  of  their  stocks,  and  at 
closing  time  Manny  Lewisham  sent  for  me.  I  smelt 
a  rat.  I  was  too  clever  for  him.  He's  offered  to 
take  the  Governor  in.  He'll  buy  a  huge  block  of 
shares  to-morrow  at  par.  He's  going  to  pay  on  the 
nail.     And  we're  safe^  we're  safe,  we're  safe. 

Catherine. 
D'you  mean  to  say  .  .  . 

Bennett. 

[^Interrupting.^  It's  what  the  Governor's  been  fight- 
ing for  for  ten  years.  At  last  he's  got  there.  The 
shares'll  be  worth  anything  you  like  in  a  month. 
It  means  wealth,  safety,  everything. 

Catherine. 
Then  George  is  .  .  . 

Bennett. 

He's  at  the  top  of  the  tree.  He's  where  he  ought 
to  be.  In  ten  years  he'll  be  in  the  House  of  Lords. 
Would  you  like  to  tell  him  yourself  ? 

[Catherine  hesitates  for  a  moment.     She  sees 
her  chance  of  freedom  slipping  away  from 


THE  TENTH  MAN       ^  211 

her  once  more.  For  a  inoment  she  struggles 
with  herself.  All  her  life,  past  and  future^ 
comes  before  her  in  a  flash. 

Catherine. 
I  don't  know  where  he  is. 

Bennett. 
You  don't  know  ? 

Catherine. 

He  went  down  to  the  smoking-room. 

Bennett. 
I  must  find  him. 

[^He  runs  towards  the  door,  but  before  he  can 
get  out  Catherine  has  a  revulsion  of 
feeling.     She  gives  a  cry. 

Catherine. 

No,  stop.     He's  in  his  bedroom.     Oh,  be  quick  ! 
Be  quick  ! 

[Bennett  stops  and  looks  at  her  ivith  surprise. 
She  runs  to  the  door  and  beats  against  it 
with  her  hands. 

Catherine. 

George,  George,  George  !  Open  the  door  !  George, 
George  ! 

Bennett. 

What's  the  matter  ?     Wliat  d'you  mean  ? 


212  THE  TENTH  MAN 


Catherine. 


George  !     It's  all  right.     Open  the  door,  for  God's 
sake.     [To  BENNErx.]  Oh,  can't  you  open  the  door  ? 

Bennett. 

Good  God,  what's  he  doing  ? 

Catherine. 

George,  George  ! 

[Bennett  2nits  his  shoulder  against  it  and 
tries  to  hurst  the  dour  open.  It  does  not 
yield. 

Bennett. 
Governor.     It's  me. 

Catherine. 
He  locked  it.     Break  the  glass. 

[She  gives  him  a  hronze  ornament  which  is  at 
her  hand.,  and  he  hreaks  it  against  the  pane 
of  glass  ivhich  is  above  the  lock.  The  glass 
splinters.  He  puts  his  hand  in  and  tarns 
the  key.  Then  he  opens  the  door  and 
bursts  in. 

Bennett. 
He's  not  there. 

Catherine, 
He  must  be.     He  must  be. 


THE  TENTH  MAN  213 

Benneit. 

The  windows  are  wide  open.  He  must  have  gone 
out. 

Catherine. 

There's  nowhere  to  go.  There's  only  about  two 
yards  of  garden  and  then  the  line.     Call  out. 

Bennett. 
Perhaps  he's  in  the  garden. 

[Bennett  r2i7is  out  through  the  doo7' of  G'EOUG'E 
Winter's  room.  As  he  does  this,  Francis 
Etchingham  comes  in  from  the  lefty  in  his 
pyjartias  and  a  dressing -govjn. 

Etchingham. 

I  say,  what  the  devil's  all  this  row  ?  It's  bad 
enough  to  have  the  trains  banging  under  one's 
window  all  night  long.     Upon  my  soul. 


Catherine. 
Where's  George  ?     Father,  father  ! 

Etchingham. 
How  the  deuce  should  I  know  ? 

[Bennett  comes  hack, 

Bennett. 
He's  not  in  the  garden  anywhere. 


214  THE  TENTH  MAN 

Catherine. 
Oh,  I'm  so  frightened  ! 

Etchixgham. 
What  on  earth's  the  matter  with  you,  Kate  ? 

Catherine. 
Oh,  my  God,  my  God  ! 

Bennett. 
We  can't  find  the  Governor. 

Etchingham. 
Perhaps  he's  gone  for  a  walk. 

Catherine. 
Along  the  line  ? 

[Teddie  O'Donnell  comes  running  in.     Ue 
has  taken  his  coat  and  ivaistcoat  off. 

O'Donnell. 

I  say,  I've  just  seen  a  most  r    ?ul   accident.     A 
man's  been  run  over  on  the  line. 

[Catherine  gives  a  shrill  scream  of  horror^ 
and,  falling  on  her  knees,  hides  her  face. 

the  end. 


RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below, 
or  on  the  date  to  which  renewed.  Renewals  only: 

Tel.  No.  642-3405 
Renewals  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  date  due. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


uEP  2  0  1971 

lO.ANl    AHC 


fJAH  1  D  7004 


C0S1'132'15M 


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